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Swave Photonics

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Overview

Swave Photonics, founded in 2022 and based in Leuven, Belgium, and Silicon Valley, California, is a pioneering company in holographic display technology. Spun out from imec, a renowned Belgian research organization, Swave focuses on augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and spatial computing. The company's flagship innovation is the world's first dynamic holographic display chip, known as the Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) technology. This groundbreaking technology utilizes standard CMOS semiconductor processes and non-volatile Phase Change Material (PCM) to create ultra-high-resolution 3D images. Key features of the HXR technology include:

  • High-Resolution Images: Produces 3D images with a pixel pitch of less than 300nm, enabling vivid and realistic holograms up to 64 gigapixels.
  • Compact Form Factors: Designed for everyday use in devices such as smart glasses, compatible with prescription lenses.
  • AI-Powered Spatial Computing: Integrated with AI services like image recognition, visual search, navigation, and translation.
  • Cost-Effective and Scalable: Utilizes CMOS technology and semiconductor economics for affordability and scalability. The primary application of Swave's HXR technology is in low-cost, lightweight AR smart glasses with all-day battery life. However, its potential extends to heads-up automotive displays and other immersive holographic experiences without the need for glasses or goggles. Swave Photonics has garnered significant recognition, including the CES 2025 Innovation Award for its HXR platform, the SPIE Startup Challenge, and being a Luminate Investment finalist. The company has also secured several non-dilutive investments and grants. Led by CEO Mike Noonen, Swave boasts a strong management team with extensive experience in semiconductors, photonics, IC design, and computer-generated holography. This expertise positions Swave Photonics at the forefront of revolutionizing the AR/VR and spatial computing industries with its innovative holographic display technology.

Leadership Team

Swave Photonics boasts a robust and experienced leadership team, bringing together over 100 years of combined expertise in semiconductors, photonics, IC design, optical systems, and computer-generated holography. CEO:

  • Mike Noonen: A semiconductor industry veteran with 30 years of experience, Noonen joined Swave in November 2022 to expand investment and commercialization of their immersive 3D holographic technologies. Founders and Executive Officers:
  • Dmitri Choutov, PhD: Founder and Chief Operating Officer, bringing extensive semiconductor and photonics industry experience.
  • Theo Marescaux, PhD, MBA: Founder and Chief Product Officer, instrumental in guiding the company's initial technology development, customer engagement, and funding stages. Vice Presidents:
  • Edward Buckley, PhD: Vice President of Augmented Reality Solutions, a recognized display expert with over 90 granted patents.
  • Andrew Repton: Vice President of IC Design, focusing on integrated circuit design.
  • Richard Stahl, PhD: Vice President of Systems Integration, responsible for integrating Swave's technologies into various systems. Other Key Roles:
  • Andrzej Kaczorowski, PhD: Digital Holography Fellow, contributing expertise in digital holography.
  • Joel Kollin: Director of Optical Architecture, focusing on optimizing the HXR optical architecture for augmented reality smartglasses. Board and Advisors:
  • Pieter Vorenkamp: Chairman & Independent Director
  • John LeMoncheck: Independent Director
  • Ward Pitkin: Advisor
  • Gordon Wetzstein, PhD: Advisor This diverse and highly qualified team positions Swave Photonics as a leader in holographic display technology, driving innovation and advancement in the field.

History

Swave Photonics, despite its relatively recent establishment, has quickly made significant strides in holographic display technology. Here's an overview of the company's history and key milestones: Founding and Origins:

  • Founded in 2022 by Dr. Theo Marescaux (Chief Product Officer) and Dr. Dmitri Choutov (Chief Operating Officer)
  • Spun out from imec (Interuniversity Microelectronic Center), a world-leading research center in nanoelectronics and digital technologies in Leuven, Belgium
  • Also maintains connections with Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Technology Development:
  • Swave's proprietary Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) technology has been under development for over a decade, leveraging imec's advanced research infrastructure and expertise Funding:
  • Secured a $11 million seed round in 2022 from investors including imec.xpand NV, Flanders Future Tech Fund CVBA, QBIC Venture Capital Fund CV, Acequia Capital LLC, and Luminate NY
  • Received an additional €7 million in funding to accelerate HXR technology development Milestones and Recognition:
  • Initial HXR Chip Samples: Planned for 2023, with various sizes for different applications
  • Development Kits: Taking orders for HXR development kits, available to customers in the second half of 2024
  • Awards: Won 1st Place SPIE Startup Challenge, Finalist in Luminate Investment, and named a CES Innovation Awards 2025 Honoree Technology and Products:
  • Developed HXR technology producing true holographic displays with pixel pitch less than 300 nanometers
  • Designed to solve issues like vergence-accommodation conflict
  • Compatible with AI-powered spatial computing
  • Suitable for applications in smart glasses, heads-up automotive displays, and other XR form factors Swave Photonics has rapidly established itself as a pioneer in holographic display technology, leveraging advanced semiconductor and photonics expertise to bring innovative solutions to market. The company's quick progress and recognition in the industry underscore its potential to revolutionize AR/VR and spatial computing technologies.

Products & Solutions

Swave Photonics is revolutionizing the augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) industries with its innovative holographic display technologies. The company's key offerings include:

Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) Technology

Swave's HXR technology is the world's first true 3D holographic display solution. It utilizes ultra-small pixels (less than 300 nm pitch) to sculpt lightwaves into high-resolution 3D images. This approach achieves natural holography through light diffraction and interference, eliminating the need for waveguides, varifocal lenses, or stereoscopy.

HXR Chipset

The HXR chipset is a spatial light modulator specifically designed for digital holography and AI-powered spatial computing. It employs non-volatile Phase Change Material (PCM) as pixels on a standard CMOS semiconductor process, enabling 3D holography up to 64 gigapixels. This technology allows for compact form factors suitable for everyday use, such as smart glasses.

Key Applications

  1. AR Smart Glasses: Low-cost, lightweight glasses with all-day battery life, addressing current AR challenges like high cost, power consumption, and user motion sickness.
  2. Heads-Up Displays: For automotive and other line-of-sight information systems.
  3. Glasses-Free 3D Virtual Reality: Potential future applications include 'video walls' for immersive experiences.

Development Kits

Swave is currently taking orders for HXR development kits, scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2024. These kits provide hardware and software for device manufacturers to design, prototype, and test new XR hardware and form factors.

Key Features

  • Reality-First User Experience: Digital elements complement and interact naturally with the physical world.
  • Cost-Effective and Scalable: Utilizes CMOS chip technology and efficient system architecture for rapid commercialization.
  • Award-Winning: Recognized with a CES 2025 Innovation Award for excellence in design and engineering. Swave Photonics' groundbreaking HXR technology promises to deliver high-quality, realistic, and user-friendly holographic experiences, positioning the company at the forefront of the AR and XR revolution.

Core Technology

Swave Photonics' innovative holographic display technology is built on several key technological pillars:

Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) Platform

The HXR platform is the foundation of Swave's technology, designed to deliver true holographic displays for augmented reality (AR) and other applications. It combines integrated photonics with proprietary diffractive photonics technology to create immersive, ultra-high-resolution, lifelike displays.

DynamicDepth Technology

At the heart of the HXR platform is DynamicDepth technology, which enables the creation of 3D holographic images that adapt to the user's surroundings. This technology ensures natural processing by the human vision system, significantly reducing issues like Vergence-Accommodation Conflict that can cause discomfort in users.

Nano-Pixels and CMOS Integration

Swave utilizes the world's smallest pixels to shape light and create high-quality 3D holographic images. These nano-pixels are integrated into Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) chips, enabling scalable and cost-effective manufacturing.

Real-Time Dynamic Holography

A significant breakthrough in Swave's technology is its ability to create dynamic and interactive holographic images in real-time. This advancement is crucial for applications such as AR smart glasses, heads-up displays, and 3D televisions, setting it apart from static holography.

Patented Innovations

Swave holds 60 core technology patents related to its holographic display technology. These patents cover various aspects of the HXR platform, including nano-pixel technology, DynamicDepth, and the integration of semiconductor, holographic, and AI technologies.

Efficient Design

Swave's HXR technology eliminates the need for costly components such as waveguides or varifocal lenses, which are typically required in existing AR devices. This streamlined approach results in a more efficient, cost-effective, and user-friendly solution. By focusing on delivering high-quality, real-time holographic displays that seamlessly integrate digital information into the natural world, Swave Photonics is positioned to revolutionize user experiences in AR, smart displays, and various other applications.

Industry Peers

While Swave Photonics occupies a unique position in holographic display technology, several companies operate in related fields of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and advanced display technologies:

AR and VR Leaders

  1. Microsoft: Pioneer in mixed reality (MR) and AR with its HoloLens series. Notably, Swave has recruited Joel Kollin, who previously worked on HoloLens 2 optical technology.
  2. Magic Leap: Prominent in the AR space, known for its Magic Leap 2 headset.
  3. Vuzix: Develops smart glasses and AR devices for enterprise and consumer markets.
  4. Epson: Offers Moverio smart glasses for various AR applications.

Display and Photonics Innovators

  1. WaveOptics (now part of Snap Inc.): Known for waveguide technology in AR displays, contrasting with Swave's waveguide-free approach.
  2. Himax Technologies: Involved in display technologies for AR and VR devices.
  3. Sony: Develops various display technologies, including those for AR and VR applications.

Semiconductor and Photonics Research

imec: As Swave Photonics' parent organization, imec is a leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Companies benefiting from imec's research could be considered peers in the broader semiconductor and photonics space. While these companies may not focus exclusively on holographic display technology like Swave Photonics, they are key players in the broader AR, VR, and advanced display industries. Swave's unique approach to holographic technology sets it apart in this competitive landscape, potentially offering advantages in areas such as natural viewing experience, form factor, and energy efficiency.

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