LCoS vs MicroLED: How China is tackling AR waveguide light loss

The article discusses China’s advancements in augmented reality (AR) display technology, focusing on the comparison between Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) and MicroLED approaches, and how these impact waveguide light loss in AR glasses. Early AR devices struggled with bulkiness, power consumption, and poor visual quality. LCoS technology, used in Meta’s Ray-Ban AI glasses, offers advantages over MicroLED by reflecting light via a silicon backplane modulated by liquid crystals, enabling stable power consumption regardless of image brightness and better control over light direction. This results in improved image uniformity and comfort in near-eye displays, crucial for practical AR use. Shenzhen-based Appotronics exemplifies China’s system-level innovation by miniaturizing AR light engines from several cubic centimeters to sizes as small as 0.2 cubic centimeters, suitable for integration into eyewear frames. Their approach involved redesigning the optical architecture to consolidate components into a single integrated lens, preserving image quality while reducing volume. A