II-VI, Artilux Demonstrate 3D Camera for Metaverse

Semiconductor laser specialist II-VI and imaging technology company Artilux demonstrated a next-generation 3D camera with longer range and higher image resolution, geared toward enhancing user experience in the metaverse.

Investments in the metaverse infrastructure are accelerating and driving the demand for sensors that enable more realistic and immersive virtual experiences. II-VI and Artilux combined their proprietary technologies in indium phosphide (InP) semiconductor lasers and GeSi sensor arrays, respectively, to demonstrate a miniature 3D camera that operates in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR), at 1380 nm, granting significantly higher performance than existing cameras operating at 940 nm.

“The longer infrared wavelength provides better contrasts and reveals material details that are otherwise not visible with shorter-wavelength illumination, especially in outdoor environments,” said Julie Sheridan, senior vice president of II-VI’s optoelectronic devices and modules business unit.

A 3D camera developed by II-VI and Artilux offers metaverse users greater resolution and longer range. Courtesy of II-VI and Artilux.

Lambda Research Optics, Inc. - Large Optics

Designing a camera operating at 1380 nm as opposed to 940 nm enables greater brightness while remaining well within the margins of eye safety requirements, she said. Background light interference is also reduced, which greatly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, as well as enabling longer range and better image resolution.

According to Artilux CTO Neil Na, the miniature SWIR 3D camera can be seamlessly integrated into next-generation consumer devices. “The SWIR camera demonstration provides a glimpse of the future of 3D sensing in the metaverse, with displays that can identify, delineate, classify, and render image content, or with avatars that can experience real-time eye contact and facial expressions,” he said.

II-VI provided the highly integrated SWIR illumination module comprising InP edge-emitting lasers that deliver up to 2 W of output power and optical diffusers, in surface-mount technology packages for low-cost and high-quality assembly. Artilux’s camera features a high-bandwidth and high-quantum-efficiency GeSi SWIR sensor array based on a scalable CMOS technology platform. Combined, the technologies enable a broad range of depth-sensing applications in consumer and automotive markets.

Published: July 2022

Glossary

metaverse: The term "metaverse" refers to a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and persistent virtual worlds. It is a concept derived from science fiction and popularized in literature, movies, and video games. In its essence, the metaverse represents a virtual universe where users can interact with each other and digital environments in real-time. Key characteristics of the metaverse include: Immersive virtual environments: The metaverse...
illumination: The general term for the application of light to a subject. It should not be used in place of the specific quantity illuminance.
virtual reality: Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be interacted with and explored by an individual using electronic devices, such as a headset with a display. VR aims to create a sense of presence, immersing users in a computer-generated world that can be entirely fictional or a replication of the real world. It often involves the use of specialized hardware and software to provide a fully immersive and interactive experience. ...
augmented reality: Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated graphics, images, or data, with the real-world environment in real-time. AR enhances the user's perception of the physical world by overlaying or combining digital content onto the user's view of the real world, often through devices like smartphones, tablets, smart glasses, or specialized AR headsets. Key features and principles of augmented reality: Real-time...
indium phosphide: Indium phosphide (InP) is a compound semiconductor material composed of indium (In) and phosphorus (P). It belongs to the III-V group of semiconductors, where elements from groups III and V of the periodic table combine to form a variety of important semiconductor materials. Indium phosphide is known for its favorable electronic and optical properties, making it widely used in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices. Key features and properties of indium phosphide include: Bandgap:...

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