TDK has demonstrated a DRP display incorporating the world's first meta-optics mirror. The mirror is ultra-thin at 150 nm and achieves high transmittance of 80%, with future mass production and cost reductions anticipated.
TDK has demonstrated a DRP display using “meta-optics,” which controls the behavior of light by arranging nanostructures on a plane. This presents a new image-display method for smart glasses as a third approach that does not require a waveguide display or curved mirror.
Conventional smart glasses have presented challenges involving appearance, cost and privacy, while the waveguide approach has had problems such as the generation of rainbow patterns. The DRP approach projects images directly onto the retina, offering the advantage of producing clear images regardless of eyesight, but its thick curved mirror has been an appearance-related issue.
The meta-optics mirror reflects light on a flat mirror to achieve a mirror just 150 nm thick, with transmittance of 80%. This makes it possible to embed the mirror in conventional eyeglass lenses. Combined with direct retinal projection, it is expected to reduce light leakage while suppressing the generation of rainbow patterns.
TDK's thin-film process technology, cultivated over many years, and collaboration with partner companies contributed to the world's first demonstration. Development originated in internal discussions in July 2022. After repeated prototyping from 2023 with QD Laser and through a TDK group company, the companies created an original meta-optics element. Basic verification of smart glasses is currently under way, and efforts toward mass production are continuing.