Jump to content

WaveOptics

From VR & AR Wiki
Revision as of 07:32, 2 May 2025 by Xinreality (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{Company Infobox |image= <!-- It's recommended to upload the company logo file to the wiki and link it here --> |Type= Subsidiary <ref name="snap_subsid"/> |Industry= Augmented Reality, Optics, Waveguides, Display technology <ref name="industry1"/><ref name="industry2"/><ref name="industry3"/><ref name="industry4"/> |Founded= {{Start date|2014}} <ref name="founded_2014_1"/><ref name="founded_2014_2"/><ref name="founded_2014_3"/><re...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

WaveOptics Limited is a British technology company specializing in the design and development of diffractive waveguides and optical engines for Augmented Reality (AR) smartglasses and headsets. [27][28] Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Oxfordshire, UK, the company developed key optical components intended to enable lightweight, high-performance, and mass-market AR wearables. [27][6][14][29] WaveOptics was acquired by Snap Inc. in May 2021 for over $500 million, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary and the primary supplier of displays for Snap Spectacles. [24][25][30][31] WaveOptics operates as a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Snap while continuing to serve other original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with its patented waveguide technology.[32][1]

WaveOptics
Information
Type Subsidiary [1]
Industry Augmented Reality, Optics, Waveguides, Display technology [2][3][4][5]
Founded Template:Start date [6][7][8][9] (Development work began earlier, possibly 2012/2013 [10])
Founder Sumanta Talukdar, David Grey, Salim Valera [11][12][13]
Headquarters Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK [14][15]
Notable Personnel David Hayes (CEO, 2017–2021)[16][17]
Sumanta Talukdar (Co-Founder) [11][12]
David Grey (Co-Founder, Chief Scientist) [11][12][18]
Salim Valera (Co-Founder) [11][13]
Phil Greenhalgh (CTO) [19]
Products Diffractive waveguides (Katana, Vulcan, Odin), Optical engines (Merlin, Titan) for AR smartglasses and headsets [20][21][22]
Projectors (e.g., Saturn 2, Loki) [22][23]
Parent Snap Inc. (Since May 2021) [24][25]
Website Template:URL [26]
See also: Companies

History

Founding and Early Development (2014–2017)

WaveOptics was founded in 2014 by Sumanta Talukdar, David Grey, and Salim Valera, who shared a background developing head-up displays (HUD) and head-mounted displays (HMD) in the defence industry at BAE Systems. [6][11][12][33] They conceived a novel waveguide approach and filed their first patent for Exit pupil expansion (EPE) technology the same year. [11][34][35] Some sources suggest initial development work started as early as 2012 or 2013. [10]

The company secured its first funding round in December 2015. [36] In 2016, WaveOptics was a finalist at the Pitch@Palace event attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II. [37]

Series Funding and Growth (2017–2020)

In July 2017, WaveOptics raised $16 million (£12 million) in a Series B funding round involving investors such as Octopus Ventures, IP Group, Hostplus Touchstone (later Touchstone Innovations/Imperial Innovations), and Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), joined by new investor Gobi Partners. [38][39] Later that year, David Hayes, formerly of DAQRI and 1066 Labs, was appointed as the new CEO to scale the business for mass manufacture. [38][16][40]

The company continued to raise capital, closing a Series C round totalling $39 million (£30 million) by September 2019. [41][42][43] This round included existing investors and new backers like Goertek, a key manufacturing partner, and Optimas Capital Partners. [41][44] The funding was aimed at scaling up operations globally, particularly in Asia and the US, and establishing high-volume manufacturing capabilities to meet growing demand from OEMs and ODMs. [45][46] WaveOptics opened offices in Los Angeles and Taipei and planned a new office in Beijing. [47]

Throughout its development, WaveOptics focused on providing components rather than complete AR devices, positioning itself as a key technology supplier to major tech companies aiming to enter the consumer AR market. [48][49] The company won the SPIE Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation in 2020 and 2021. [50]

Technology

WaveOptics specializes in diffractive waveguides, a key optical component for transferring a projected image into the user's eye in an AR display system. [2][51] Their technology employs volume holographic gratings fabricated via nanoimprint lithography and aims to produce AR displays with a large eye-box (viewing window), wide field of view (FOV), high optical efficiency, low chromatic dispersion, and full-colour, crisp images suitable for mass manufacture in slim eyewear form factors. [52][53][35]

Key aspects of their technology included:

  • Diffractive Waveguides: Utilized nanostructures patterned onto the surface of a glass or polymer waveguide to diffract light. [54][55]
  • Exit Pupil Expansion (EPE): Employed patented techniques for expanding the exit pupil, allowing for a larger viewing area and accommodating variations in user interpupillary distance and headset positioning. [11][56][35] WaveOptics often highlighted its use of a two-dimensional EPE approach. [57]
  • Grating Design: Some patented designs utilize a three-grating structure, while other implementations reportedly used only two main diffraction regions (an input grating and a 2D output grating structure), potentially simplifying the design compared to some rival approaches. [35][58][59]
  • Materials Partnership: Collaborated with major glass manufacturers like Corning Inc. and Schott AG to source ultra-flat, high-index glass wafers necessary for their waveguides. [60][61]
  • Projector Integration: Designed optical engines comprising both the waveguide and a light projector, supporting various microdisplay projector types like DMD, LCoS, and MicroLED. [62]

Products

WaveOptics developed and offered optical engines (combining a waveguide with a compatible projector) and standalone waveguide components. [20] Their key waveguide platforms include:

WaveOptics Waveguide Product Specifications [63]
Model Plates FoV (diagonal) Thickness Weight Launch year Primary Use Case
Katana [64][65][66] 1 28°–30° 1.15 mm 7 g 2020 Consumer notifications & navigation [67]
Vulcan [63] 2 40° 3.1 mm 12 g ~2019 Enterprise information overlay
Odin [68] 3 55°–60° 2.65 mm 17 g ~2019 Immersive mixed reality experiences

WaveOptics complemented its waveguides with projectors like the Saturn 2 [69] and offered reference optical engine modules such as Merlin and Titan. [22] A notable compact projector, Loki, was designed by WaveOptics incorporating a MicroLED microdisplay from partner Jade Bird Display (JBD) for use with the Katana waveguide in development kits like "Leopard". [23]

WaveOptics also partnered with companies like Luxexcel to integrate their waveguides into 3D-printed prescription lenses, aiming to address the vision correction needs of potential AR users. [70][71] They collaborated with MicroLED developers like JBD and Plessey Semiconductors (prior to its acquisition by Facebook/Meta) on next-generation display modules. [23][72][73]

Manufacturing Partnerships

  • Goertek: In November 2018, WaveOptics signed an exclusive high‑volume manufacturing agreement with the Chinese ODM, establishing a dedicated production line. [74] Goertek also became an investor in WaveOptics' Series C round. [44]
  • Corning Inc.: Long-term supply deal agreed in December 2018 for ultra-flat, high-index glass wafers. [61]
  • EV Group (EVG): Collaboration announced in 2019 focused on scalable manufacturing solutions for AR optics production using EVG's nanoimprint lithography equipment. [75]

Funding

Prior to its acquisition, WaveOptics had raised approximately $55-60 million across multiple funding rounds. [36][76] Key rounds included:

  • Series B (July 2017): $16 million (£12 million) from investors including Octopus Ventures, IP Group, Hostplus Touchstone, RBVC, and Gobi Partners. [38]
  • Series C (Dec 2018 - Sep 2019): $39 million (£30 million) raised in two tranches, led by existing investors and joined by Goertek and Optimas Capital Partners. [41][42][43]

Acquisition by Snap Inc.

On May 21, 2021, Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, announced its acquisition of WaveOptics for over $500 million. [24][30][77][31] The deal involved a combination of stock and potentially cash payments over two years. [78][32] At the time, it was reported as Snap's largest acquisition and a significant deal in the UK deep tech sector and the AR hardware space. [1][79]

WaveOptics' technology was already being used in Snap's 4th generation Spectacles AR glasses, which were released to developers around the same time. [80][81] Snap CEO Evan Spiegel described the acquisition as a long-term investment in the future of Spectacles, highlighting WaveOptics' years of development in complex waveguide technology. [82]

Following the acquisition, WaveOptics became a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of Snap, remaining headquartered in Oxfordshire. [1][83] Snap indicated that WaveOptics would continue to operate and supply its technology to other external customers while also working closely with Snap's hardware division on custom AR optics. [1][84][32] The acquisition provided Snap with crucial in-house expertise and manufacturing capabilities for core AR display components as it competes with other major tech companies like Apple, Meta Platforms, and Google in the race to develop consumer AR glasses. [85]

Notable Personnel

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "Proudly part of Snap Inc. WaveOptics is a wholly owned, independent subsidiary of Snap. We continue to support our external customers."
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "We research, design and develop optical engines for augmented reality smartglasses and headsets."
  3. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "UK-based maker of augmented reality waveguides based on diffraction gratings to become part of Snap Inc... WaveOptics... makes optical waveguides for augmented reality (AR) hardware."
  4. ↑ "Wave Optics Limited - Company Profile". Endole. https://www.endole.co.uk/company/08894247/wave-optics-limited. "WaveOptics is a provider of optical engines for augmented reality (AR) eyewear, focusing on the design and manufacture of waveguides and projectors."
  5. ↑ "Homepage - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "2014. Our Story: WaveOptics was Established."
  7. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "Founded by Sumanta Talukdar and David Grey in 2014..."
  8. ↑ "WaveOptics - 2025 Company Profile, Funding & Competitors". Tracxn. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/waveoptics/__qYCUJt3h6ZL5-eTzQNDGW-SAzjNK9xa6sx3fHG7f1nE. "Founded by Sumanta Talukdar and David Grey in the year 2014."
  9. ↑ "Augmented reality startup WaveOptics raises €23 million to expand internationally". EU-Startups. 2018-12-11. https://www.eu-startups.com/2018/12/uk-based-waveoptics-raises-e23-million-series-c-to-expand-its-augmented-reality-tech-internationally/. "Founded in 2014, WaveOptics..."
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "Meanwhile WaveOptics has been quietly developing its waveguide technology since 2012... We first met with the WaveOptics team in 2013..."
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "Co-founders Salim Valera, David Grey and Sumanta Talukhdar share a vision to unlock the potential of AR wearables."
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "Sumanta Talukdar and his co-founders, David Grey and Salim Valera..."
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Team - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/team/. "Founded. Co-founded by David Grey, Salim Valera and Sumanta Talukdar."
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "WaveOptics 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition". PitchBook. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/107080-05. "Corporate Office · 141 Park Drive, Milton Park · Abingdon · Oxford OX14 4SR · England, United Kingdom."
  15. ↑ "Wilson Sonsini Advises WaveOptics on Acquisition by Snap". Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. 2021-05-24. https://www.wilsonsonsini.com/insights/news-releases/wilson-sonsini-advises-waveoptics-on-acquisition-by-snap. "WaveOptics is headquartered in Oxford, England."
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "WaveOptics's CEO David Hayes, who arrived in 2017..."
  17. ↑ "WaveOptics - 2025 Company Profile, Funding & Competitors". Tracxn. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/waveoptics/__qYCUJt3h6ZL5-eTzQNDGW-SAzjNK9xa6sx3fHG7f1nE. "David Hayes is the CEO of WaveOptics."
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Homepage - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "WaveOptics and Luxexcel Create Prescription AR Glasses". XR Today. 2021-03-11. https://www.xrtoday.com/ar/waveoptics-and-luxexcel-create-prescription-ar-glasses/. "CTO of WaveOptics, Phil Greenhalgh went on to say..."
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "We research, design and develop optical engines for augmented reality smartglasses and headsets... Optical engines comprise a waveguide and projector."
  21. ↑ "Augmented reality startup WaveOptics raises €23 million to expand internationally". EU-Startups. 2018-12-11. https://www.eu-startups.com/2018/12/uk-based-waveoptics-raises-e23-million-series-c-to-expand-its-augmented-reality-tech-internationally/. "UK-based WaveOptics is a designer and manufacturer of diffractive waveguides – the key optical component in wearable AR devices, such as smart glasses."
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "Waveguide models". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/waveguides/.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "News: WaveOptics & Jade Bird Display MicroLED Partnership". KGOnTech. 2021-08-25. https://kguttag.com/2021/08/25/news-waveoptics-jade-bird-display-microled-partnership/. "Leopard uses the Katana waveguide platform... It combines with Loki, the WaveOptics designed projector (incorporating JBD's uLED panel) weighing just 0.6 grams..."
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "WaveOptics 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition". PitchBook. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/107080-05. "Who acquired WaveOptics? WaveOptics was acquired by Snap... When was WaveOptics acquired? WaveOptics was acquired on 21-May-2021."
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "How WaveOptics became one of the biggest ever exits for a venture-backed “deeptech” start-up in Europe". IP Group plc. 2021-06-10. https://www.ipgroupplc.com/media/portfolio-news/2021/2021-06-10. "The augmented reality company was sold to Snap in 2021..."
  26. ↑ "WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named intro1
  28. ↑ "WaveOptics - Company Profile and Products". Metoree. https://www.metoree.com/manufacturers/10317/. "WaveOptics was established is 2014 as a manufacturer of optical engines and is based in Oxford, UK."
  29. ↑ "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "Meanwhile WaveOptics... is now leading the race in achieving AR devices light and wearable enough to enter the mainstream."
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "Snap Inc... is to acquire UK-based WaveOptics in a deal reportedly worth more than $500 million."
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Template:Cite news
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Template:Cite news
  33. ↑ "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "Prior to starting WaveOptics, they had been developing head-up displays (HMDs) and head-mounted displays (HUDs) in the defence industry at BAE Systems..."
  34. ↑ "Team - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/team/. "First WaveOptics patent application filed for “Exit pupil expanding diffractive optical waveguiding device” – key to initial funding success."
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Template:Cite patent
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "WaveOptics - 2025 Company Profile, Funding & Competitors". Tracxn. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/waveoptics/__qYCUJt3h6ZL5-eTzQNDGW-SAzjNK9xa6sx3fHG7f1nE. "WaveOptics has raised a total funding of $54.9M over 4 rounds. Its first funding round was on Dec 14, 2015."
  37. ↑ "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "2016. Finalist at award attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II. In November our diffractive waveguide was recognised at the prestigious Pitch@Palace..."
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "In July Series B funding of $16m was secured... Later that year David Hayes was brought in as the new CEO..."
  39. ↑ "WaveOptics 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition". PitchBook. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/107080-05. "Who are WaveOptics's investors? , Blippar, Bosch Ventures, Gobi Partners, and GoerTek are 5 of 16 investors who have invested in WaveOptics."
  40. ↑ "About WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/about/.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "WaveOptics eyes production ramp with $13M top-up". Optics.org. 2019-09-11. https://optics.org/news/10/9/18. "WaveOptics... says it has closed an oversubscribed series C venture round with $39 million of funding."
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "WaveOptics - 2025 Company Profile, Funding & Competitors". Tracxn. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/waveoptics/__qYCUJt3h6ZL5-eTzQNDGW-SAzjNK9xa6sx3fHG7f1nE. "Its latest funding round was a Series C round on Sep 10, 2019 for $13M."
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "WaveOptics closes £30 million Series C funding". Auganix. 9 September 2019. https://www.auganix.org/waveoptics-closes-gbp-30-million-in-series-c-funding-allowing-it-to-scale-business-operations-in-the-uk-us-and-asia/.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "WaveOptics eyes production ramp with $13M top-up". Optics.org. 2019-09-11. https://optics.org/news/10/9/18. "The top-up was supported by key partner Goertek, with whom WaveOptics has already signed an exclusive manufacturing partnership..."
  45. ↑ "WaveOptics eyes production ramp with $13M top-up". Optics.org. 2019-09-11. https://optics.org/news/10/9/18. "“The funds raised will allow WaveOptics to scale its business operations in the UK, US and Asia, and build a high-volume manufacturing capability,” stated the firm."
  46. ↑ "Augmented reality startup WaveOptics raises €23 million to expand internationally". EU-Startups. 2018-12-11. https://www.eu-startups.com/2018/12/uk-based-waveoptics-raises-e23-million-series-c-to-expand-its-augmented-reality-tech-internationally/. "The capital raised will be used to scale up business operations nationally and internationally, and build WaveOptics’ manufacturing supply chain..."
  47. ↑ "Augmented reality startup WaveOptics raises €23 million to expand internationally". EU-Startups. 2018-12-11. https://www.eu-startups.com/2018/12/uk-based-waveoptics-raises-e23-million-series-c-to-expand-its-augmented-reality-tech-internationally/. "WaveOptics, which is based in Abington, UK, also has offices in Los Angeles and Taipei, and plans to open a new office in Beijing in 2019."
  48. ↑ "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "WaveOptics's CEO David Hayes... made the call to concentrate on developing the technology, choosing to keep the tech giants as potential customers rather than competitors. Remaining a component seller has proven to be the right decision."
  49. ↑ "How WaveOptics became one of the biggest ever exits for a venture-backed “deeptech” start-up in Europe". IP Group plc. 2021-06-10. https://www.ipgroupplc.com/media/portfolio-news/2021/2021-06-10. "WaveOptics counted 8 of the world's top 10 social media and consumer electronics companies amongst its early customers..."
  50. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "WaveOptics, which won a second consecutive Photonics Prism Award earlier this year..."
  51. ↑ "Augmented reality startup WaveOptics raises €23 million to expand internationally". EU-Startups. 2018-12-11. https://www.eu-startups.com/2018/12/uk-based-waveoptics-raises-e23-million-series-c-to-expand-its-augmented-reality-tech-internationally/. "What WaveOptics’ technology does is transfer the light waves from the light source and project them into the user’s eye."
  52. ↑ "Augmented reality startup WaveOptics raises €23 million to expand internationally". EU-Startups. 2018-12-11. https://www.eu-startups.com/2018/12/uk-based-waveoptics-raises-e23-million-series-c-to-expand-its-augmented-reality-tech-internationally/. "The technology produces a large eye-box (or viewing window)... WaveOptics’ waveguides deliver crisp, undistorted text as well as stable imagery."
  53. ↑ "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "We deliver superior optical performance for affordable mass manufacture."
  54. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "WaveOptics has developed AR lenses and light projectors based around diffractive waveguides."
  55. ↑ "How WaveOptics became one of the biggest ever exits for a venture-backed “deeptech” start-up in Europe". IP Group plc. 2021-06-10. https://www.ipgroupplc.com/media/portfolio-news/2021/2021-06-10. "This was done using a unique and novel approach of patterning microstructures onto the surface of the lens to efficiently redirect light into the eye."
  56. ↑ "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "They conceive of a novel waveguide approach and filed the first patent for exit pupil expansion technology."
  57. ↑ "Snap Inc. to Acquire WaveOptics, Announces Updated Smart Glasses". Photonics Spectra. 2021-05-24. https://spie.org/news/snap-acquires-waveoptics. "This process is known as 2D pupil expansion and allows a small light engine to support a large eye box..."
  58. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "By using only two distinct diffraction regions - an input grating... and an output structure consisting of a 2D array of nanostructures - the WaveOptics approach shrinks the overall weight and size of AR glasses."
  59. ↑ "WaveOptics eyes production ramp with $13M top-up". Optics.org. 2019-09-11. https://optics.org/news/10/9/18. "The WaveOptics technology is based around two distinct diffraction regions... Rival approaches typically require three gratings."
  60. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "In the development of those components, WaveOptics has collaborated closely with major glass firms Corning and Schott, who produce the high-index glass material on which the company's AR waveguides are based."
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 "WaveOptics eyes production ramp with $13M top-up". Optics.org. 2019-09-11. https://optics.org/news/10/9/18. "Another key relationship is that with US glass giant Corning. In December 2018 the two companies agreed a long-term deal for Corning to supply WaveOptics with the ultra-flat, high-index glass wafers..."
  62. ↑ "About - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/about/. "The waveguides are paired with projectors for maximum design flexibility and image quality and these are DMD, LCoS or MicroLED based."
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 "Waveguide models". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/waveguides/.
  64. ↑ "Katana waveguide". WaveOptics. 3 February 2020. https://waveoptics.ar/waveguides/katana/.
  65. ↑ "Katana - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/katana/. "Katana is a one plate waveguide platform ranging between 28° – 30° field of view."
  66. ↑ "WaveOptics unveils its Katana waveguide design for Augmented Reality wearables". Photonics Online. 2020-02-03. https://www.photonicsonline.com/doc/waveoptics-unveils-its-katana-waveguide-design-for-augmented-reality-wearables-0001. "At 1.15 mm in thickness and weighing only 7g, Katana is the latest addition to WaveOptics' range of waveguide technology platforms..."
  67. ↑ "Katana - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/katana/. "Who is Katana ideal for? Light weight, low cost, low power, smart glasses design. What is a suitable use case? Simple notification and communication applications for example."
  68. ↑ "Odin waveguide". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/waveguides/odin/.
  69. ↑ "Saturn 2 projector specifications". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.ar/projectors/saturn2/.
  70. ↑ "WaveOptics and Luxexcel Create Prescription AR Glasses". XR Today. 2021-03-11. https://www.xrtoday.com/ar/waveoptics-and-luxexcel-create-prescription-ar-glasses/. "Provider of 3D printed prescription lenses, Luxexcel, recently joined forces with WaveOptics... The solution will combine a 3D-printed prescription lens with an innovative projector and waveguide."
  71. ↑ "Snap Acquires AR Display Startup WaveOptics for Over $500M". Road to VR. 2021-05-21. https://www.roadtovr.com/snap-buys-waveoptics-ar-display-acquisition-500m/. "More recently, WaveOptics showed off prescription waveguide lenses built in partnership with Luxexcel..."
  72. ↑ "Plessey and WaveOptics to co-develop a microLED optical module for next-generation smart glasses". MicroLED-Info. 2020-02-06. https://www.microled-info.com/plessey-and-waveoptics-co-develop-microled-optical-module-next-generation-smart-glasses. "UK-based GaN-On-Si MicroLED microdisplay developer Plessey Semiconductor announced a new partnership with waveguide designer WaveOptics... The module will incorporate Plessey's high brightness green Full-HD microLED displays with WaveOptics' Katana waveguide technology..."
  73. ↑ Template:Cite news
  74. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  75. ↑ "WaveOptics collaborates with EV Group to drive augmented reality (AR) manufacturing at scale". EV Group. 2019-04-29. https://www.evgroup.com/company/news/detail/waveoptics-collaborates-with-ev-group-to-drive-augmented-reality-ar-manufacturing-at-scale-1556352836.
  76. ↑ "WaveOptics funding & valuation". CB Insights. https://www.cbinsights.com/company/waveoptics/financials.
  77. ↑ "WaveOptics 2025 Company Profile: Valuation, Investors, Acquisition". PitchBook. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/107080-05. "WaveOptics was acquired on 21-May-2021."
  78. ↑ "Snap Acquires AR Display Startup WaveOptics for Over $500M". Road to VR. 2021-05-21. https://www.roadtovr.com/snap-buys-waveoptics-ar-display-acquisition-500m/. "The Verge reports that Snap is providing half of the acquisition price in stocks, and is reserving the option to either pay in cash or stocks after two years."
  79. ↑ "How WaveOptics was acquired by a global tech giant". Octopus Ventures. 2021-05-21. https://octopusventures.com/news/how-waveoptics-was-acquired-by-a-global-tech-giant/. "...the recent acquisition of our portfolio company, WaveOptics, by Snap Inc. – the biggest UK deep tech acquisition in years..."
  80. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "The optics technology features in Snap's latest generation of “Spectacles” AR glasses..."
  81. ↑ "How WaveOptics became one of the biggest ever exits for a venture-backed “deeptech” start-up in Europe". IP Group plc. 2021-06-10. https://www.ipgroupplc.com/media/portfolio-news/2021/2021-06-10. "...eventual acquirer Snap which now use the WaveOptics technology in its Spectacles product..."
  82. ↑ "WaveOptics snapped up in $500M deal". Optics.org. 2021-05-25. https://optics.org/news/12/5/40. "Commenting on the acquisition... Snap's CEO Evan Spiegel said: “We've been working with [WaveOptics] for many years on waveguides... This really represents a long-term investment in the future of Spectacles."
  83. ↑ "WaveOptics Company Profile 2025". Tracxn. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/waveoptics/__qYCUJt3h6ZL5-eTzQNDGW-SAzjNK9xa6sx3fHG7f1nE.
  84. ↑ "Snap Acquires AR Display Startup WaveOptics for Over $500M". Road to VR. 2021-05-21. https://www.roadtovr.com/snap-buys-waveoptics-ar-display-acquisition-500m/. "A Snap spokesperson confirmed that WaveOptics will both continue operations to supply other companies with its tech whilst working with Snap on custom AR optics."
  85. ↑ "Waveguides, an augmented reality display tech, are key to AR's future". Emerging Tech Brew. 2021-05-27. https://www.emergingtechbrew.com/stories/2021/05/27/waveguides-augmented-reality-display-tech-key-ars-future. "Snapping up the supplier strengthens the social media company's skunkworks search for superiority in smart glasses... Most AR-curious or -devoted companies see mastery of waveguides as essential to eventual mass-manufacturing of mainstream hardware."
  86. ↑ "WaveOptics Co-Founders recognised by Shift 100 - WaveOptics". 2017-06-20. https://waveoptics.ar/media/waveoptics-co-founders-recognised-by-shift-100/. "Sumanta Talukdar, CEO and Co-Founder..."
  87. ↑ "Team - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/team/. "Prior to joining WaveOptics David was the executive vice president of DAQRI Labs... Prior to DAQRI, David was the CEO of 1066 Labs..."
  88. ↑ "Team - WaveOptics". WaveOptics. https://waveoptics.com/team/. "Prior to CTO at WaveOptics, Phil was SVP Engineering at DAQRI and Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer at 1066 Labs."
  89. ↑ "WaveOptics Appoints Richard Smith as Chief Operating Officer". IP Group plc. 2020-12-02. https://www.ipgroupplc.com/media/portfolio-news/2020/2020-12-02.
Retrieved from "https://vrarwiki.com/index.php?title=WaveOptics&oldid=34936"