Investing 2 Million Euros, This Company Develops PIC-based AR Laser Engine

Dutch startup Brilliance, which is developing miniature laser modules for augmented reality (AR) displays, recently announced that it has secured €2 million in its latest seed round of funding.
The Enschede, Netherlands-based company says it has developed laser technology in photonic integrated circuit (PIC) format that offers higher resolution and energy consumption compared to existing AR projection displays.
The company announced, "The €2 million investment from Oost NL and PhotonVentures emphasizes the confidence in Brilliance's innovative approach and enables the company to grow further."
The key to miniaturization
CEO Tim Tiek said the patented approach, which builds on years of PIC development and spin-offs at the nearby University of Twente (including foundry businesses LioniX and PHIX Photonics), provides the right combination of optical performance, compactness, and scalability required for consumer electronics.
Miniaturization is key to the success of AR glasses/headsets development, because in order to achieve the ultimate in wearing comfort, the device must be as small as possible, preferably almost invisible," he said. In addition, there must be very clear images, especially in outdoor applications, while energy consumption must be kept to a minimum. We are now able to overcome these challenges by producing the smallest, most efficient chip solution."
The module has a footprint of 7 x 4 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm.
Douwe Geuzebroek, CTO, who was LioniX's vice president of sales and marketing, added: "By using the methods of the semiconductor and photonics industries, our modules can also be scaled up to the quantities required for these markets."
In a recent development, Brilliance demonstrated a prototype chip fabricated using a new flip-chip method, in which a laser chip is placed "upside down" on top of other photonic components.
The company says: "Brilliance's capabilities allow precise control of light output characteristics, ensuring compatibility with advanced eye-tracking systems and durability through hermetically sealed designs and strategically placed electrical connections."
Customized prototypes
The company's next steps include further development of the current generation of "proof-of-concept" laser engines into customized prototypes, as well as preliminary steps for future mass production. The company has also hired for several positions.
Tiek said, "With this investment, we can scale up our silicon nitride-based PIC technology to the industrial scale required by the AR market." "We are therefore delighted that the confidence of our new shareholders has made this next step in our development possible."