From September 11th to 13th, the 25th China International Optoelectronics Exposition (CIOE) was held in Shenzhen, showcasing an exhibition area exceeding 240,000 square meters across 12 halls at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Over 3,700 top-quality optoelectronics enterprises from around the globe participated, covering a broad range of optoelectronics fields including information and communication, precision optics, camera technology and applications, lasers and smart manufacturing, intelligent sensing, and new display technologies.

As one of the largest and most influential comprehensive professional events in the global optoelectronics industry, CIOE serves not only as a platform for exhibition but also a hub for in-depth exchanges and idea collisions among VR/AR upstream supply chain elites. Focusing on the AR/VR sector, this year's event was bustling with activity, featuring leading XR optics manufacturers such as Goertek Optics, JBD, Nidec, Luxshare Precision, and Gudong Technology.

As VRARPlanet, on the front lines of CIOE, we will now take you on a deep dive into the latest XR technology breakthroughs and showcase some standout products. Enjoy:

Goertek Optics: Newly Upgraded AR Display Engine Module, 4K Micro-OLED+Pancake VR Optics Module

Marking its debut at CIOE, Goertek Optics presented a series of XR optics products and solutions. These included a 0.7cc full-color LCoS AR display engine module, a 0.15cc single-green Micro-LED + resin diffraction waveguide AR display module, a new-generation dual-focal plane AR-HUD display engine for automotive use, a 3D structured light smart access control system, and a facial recognition & QR code scanning integrated door lock module. Additionally, the newly launched 4K Micro-OLED+Pancake VR optics module in July was a major highlight of the exhibition.

Notably, Goertek Optics unveiled a newly upgraded AR display engine module at CIOE. With a volume of just 0.7cc and a weight of 1.3g, this module is one of the smallest, lightest, and mass-producible full-color LCoS display engine modules in the industry.

Image Source: Goertek Optics

As one of the star products at the exhibition, Goertek Optics also showcased its high-performance VR Pancake optics module, Stellar C41, launched in July. Employing a single-eye 4K resolution Micro-OLED microdisplay combined with a Pancake folded optical path design, Stellar C41 offers a 105° FOV and 45 PPD (pixels per degree).

Luxshare Precision: Introducing Industry's First PVG Waveguide AR Glasses 'Lark'

At CIOE, Luxshare Precision collaborated with Southeast University (Parallel Vision) to unveil the industry's first PVG waveguide AR glasses, 'Lark,' stealing the show.

Weighing just 45 grams, these glasses represent a significant leap in comfort, allowing for prolonged use in various scenarios without discomfort. Integrating features such as music playback, real-time translation, smart teleprompter, and precise navigation, the product boasts an optimized human-computer interaction interface that combines touch control with advanced voice control technology, significantly enhancing user convenience and fluency.

Moreover, two VR Pancake optics modules were also on display, each featuring a Micro-OLED display with resolutions of 1.03” 2.5K and 1.35” 4K, respectively, paired with a Pancake polarized folded optical path design, providing FOV experiences of 90° and 96°, respectively.

JBD: Showcasing the New High-Brightness, High-Definition Hummingbird I Color Optics Module and More

At CIOE, Shanghai Xianyao Display Technology Co., Ltd. (JBD) presented its new high-brightness, high-definition Hummingbird I color optics module, along with the Hummingbird Mini II monochrome light engine and other Micro LED microdisplay products. Additionally, JBD displayed a range of AR smart glasses.

The new Hummingbird I color optics module, when paired with a waveguide, achieves an eye-entry brightness exceeding 6000 nits, far surpassing the previous standards of 1000-2000 nits and eliminating the limitation of ambient light. Integrating the industry's first waveguide image quality correction solution, ARTCs, it offers dual image quality correction for both the light engine and waveguide, effectively improving brightness uniformity and significantly reducing color distortion and granularity. Meanwhile, the rainbow effect is greatly mitigated, resulting in higher purity. The Hummingbird I outputs a luminous flux of up to 6 lumens with a typical power consumption maintained at 150mW.

Image Source: JBD

It is reported that currently, 26 AR glasses adopting JBD solutions have been officially announced, with tens of thousands of units shipped in total. More than 30 AR glasses are under development, with the majority planning to integrate AI.

Leyu: Launching Mass-Produced PowerMatch®? 1 Full-Color Micro-LED Display Series

Leyu unveiled its mass-produced PowerMatch®? 1 full-color Micro-LED display series at the exhibition.

The PowerMatch®? 1 series features a screen size of 0.13 inches with a full-color resolution of 320×240 (Micro-LED resolution of 640×480). Benefiting from advancements in gallium nitride and quantum dot materials and processes, along with an upgraded CMOS drive architecture, the PowerMatch®? 1 series achieves a significant boost in brightness with low power consumption, reaching a peak full-color brightness of 250,000 nits. This new technology architecture holds immense potential for performance enhancement.

Notably, the PowerMatch®? 1 series supports both QSPI and MIPI interfaces, marking a new breakthrough in the full-color Micro-LED microdisplay field.

Image Source: Leyu

GOOVIS: Showcasing the World's First Super Retina-Grade 4K Ultra-HD XR Headset

At CIOE, GOOVIS exhibited the world's first super retina-grade 4K ultra-HD XR headset, developed in collaboration with BOE and Visionext.

The headset employs a 0.9-inch Micro OLED screen developed by BOE and Visionext, achieving a resolution of 3840*3840 and a PPI of 6020, making it the highest PPI silicon-based OLED screen globally. Leveraging GOOVIS' exclusive aspherical multi-lens group (ASPH) technology, the headset delivers a super retina-grade display effect with over 60 PPD and optical distortion of less than 1%.

As the world's first super retina-grade 4K ultra-HD VR headset for a single eye, this product is poised for widespread adoption in film viewing, gaming, medical surgeries, and various high-end imaging visualization applications.

Image Source: VRARPlanet

Nidec: Unveiling Waveguide Display and Freeform Optics Display Innovations

Leading freeform optics display supplier Nidec showcased its innovative optical solutions, including waveguide display, freeform optics display, and AI display terminals.

Nidec's self-developed binocular geometric waveguide + projection optics engine garnered significant attention for its ultra-thin form factor, high transmittance, and color fidelity. The consumer-grade full-featured AR glasses, ARknovv A1, equipped with Nidec's Freeform Diamond Pro optics solution, received enthusiastic trials from professional visitors. Additionally, the Slamglass Vision Air smart VR glasses, featuring Nidec's innovative Mini-Pancake technology, garnered praise for their ultra-thin design, ultra-high clarity, and expansive FOV.

Image Source: Nidec

Xitai Technology: Debuting New Products from Its 12-inch Production Line

As one of China's pioneering enterprises in Micro OLED, Xitai Technology debuted new products from its 12-inch production line and showcased the world's first 4500ppi FIM (Fine Inorganic Mask).

Xitai Technology highlighted its mass-produced 0.23-inch and 0.6-inch products from its 8-inch production line, along with newly developed 0.49-inch and 0.68-inch products from its 12-inch line, precisely catering to the core market demands of the microdisplay industry.

Notably, Xitai Technology's 0.68-inch 1920*1200 product, a newly self-developed IC-driven device, can achieve a brightness of up to 5000 nits when paired with Tandem and Micro lens technologies. This offers an ideal display effect for next-generation AR glasses with large FOV optics, effectively improving edge distortion and enhancing optical performance. Meanwhile, the 0.49-inch product leverages the scale and automation advantages of the 12-inch production line, satisfying diverse needs for entry-level AR and FPV models with true FHD resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Image Source: Xitai Technology

OPTIX: Premiering AR 2D Waveguide Module EPIC50

OPTIX, an optical technology company, showcased four products for AR and VR, including the AR 2D array waveguide module EPIC50, an 8K ultra-HD VR Pancake module, and iterative versions of Superkit Foveated and Superkit Varifocal, both integrating eye tracking and foveated rendering. Additionally, four lens products were on display: myopia-integrated lenses, all-glue lenses, zoom lenses, and 2D array waveguides.

Among them, the EPIC50 AR 2D waveguide module was unveiled for the first time, offering a large 50° FOV and high optical efficiency. The VR Pancake module features adjustable diopter, boasting an ultra-wide 115° FOV, 8K HD display, and optical specifications comparable to or surpassing those of Apple's Vision Pro. Foveated rendering and zoom capabilities were also highlights, significantly enhancing user experience and representing crucial advancements for the next generation of VR products.

Gyges Labs: Launching the World's First Invisible Display AI Glasses and Solution

As a star exhibitor in the new display technology section, Gyges Labs, in collaboration with its partners, unveiled the world's first invisible display AI glasses and solution, attracting the attention of many optical technology researchers and eyewear industry professionals.

Leveraging Gyges Labs' proprietary DigiWindow technology, this solution boasts one of the smallest near-eye display optics globally, with a display module as small as 2x2x2 mm, easily integrated into regular eyeglass frames without adding significant weight or bulk. Furthermore, thanks to its exceptional optical efficiency, the technology supports up to a week of battery life, effectively addressing battery anxiety.

Image Source: Gyges Labs

Gudong Technology: Displaying Its Latest Optics Products

At CIOE, Gudong Technology showcased its latest optics products, encompassing the entire AR glasses supply chain, including display photoresist materials, volume holographic waveguide modules, AR glasses, and AR/AI software algorithms.

Gudong Technology exhibited three diffraction volume holographic waveguide modules—H2026G, H3030G, and H3030DG—which overcame industry bottlenecks in material selection, manufacturing processes, and binocular image fusion while achieving full-chain integration from R&D to mass production. The H3040-V-G and H3040-V-M models offer a DFoV of 40° and a transmittance exceeding 80%. Notably, both models achieve two-dimensional pupil expansion with minimal light loss of 2%-3%. Additionally, they boast a more compact optics module and lower production costs.

These modules are equipped with Micro OLED displays, delivering full HD resolution of 1952*1232 and an FOV exceeding 45°, showcasing advantages such as high brightness, clarity, wide FOV, superior image quality, uniform color, sleek design, and high mass producibility.

Image source: Gudong Technology

Shoujing Technology: Debuting with the latest generation of AR product matrix and two breakthrough application solutions

At this year's CIOE Optoelectronics Expo, Shoujing Technology debuted with its latest generation of AR product matrix and two breakthrough application solutions - the AR+AI intelligent inspection system and the AR+large-space computing system, showcasing its outstanding strength and unlimited potential in the field of AR technology to the world.

Hefei Shoujing Technology is a national high-tech enterprise focusing on AR technology research and application, with its business primarily targeting the B-end market. Its products include AR devices and application development, which can be applied in various fields such as industrial inspection and security.

Image source: Shoujing Technology

Kangtaida Technology: Debuting with fully automated XR binocular alignment equipment, manual/automated AA binocular alignment platforms, and more

At the Optoelectronics Expo, Kangtaida Technology debuted with XR binocular alignment equipment, AR binocular testing and performance inspection equipment, automated AA binocular alignment equipment, and automated AA binocular alignment platforms.

Among them, the binocular AA equipment employs two sets of high-resolution human-eye-mimicking cameras paired with two sets of high-precision six-axis displacement platforms, working in conjunction with KTD's proprietary AA software suite to achieve automated binocular AA, image alignment, automated dispensing, and curing processes. This equipment is suitable for Pancake, BB, freeform, optical waveguide, and other module types.

Founded in July 2010 and located in the German Industrial Park, Zhangpu Town, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, Kangtaida Technology is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, design, production, and sales of automation equipment in the fields of metaverse and precision optics and optoelectronics. Currently, Kangtaida has established in-depth partnerships with industry leaders such as Sunny Optical Technology, GoerTek, Nedga, and MicroRay Optics, providing AA equipment for XR production to multiple customers.

Image source: Kangtaida Technology

Due to space limitations, many other outstanding enterprises have not been featured, but please be assured that their stories are equally fascinating. In the days to come, let us jointly anticipate the emergence of more outstanding enterprises and witness an even brighter future for optoelectronics technology.

Written by Vivi

(Images not marked in the article are sourced from the internet)