OQmented, Itzehoe, Germany-based developer of MEMS mirror-based laser scanning solutions for applications such as consumer AR glasses, 3D cameras and machine vision, announced it has opened an optics R&D site in Jena, Germany.
The curved glass lid atop OQmented’s MEMS mirror device inspired the technology’s name: Bubble MEMS. Founded in 2008 as a spinoff from the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT) in Germany, OQmented claims its Bubble MEMS technology provides a steerable chip that achieves best performance in terms of field of view, device size, durability, energy consumption, sensing, and resolution. While OQmented’s site in Itzehoe (and Kiel) will focus on the 3D sensing, electronics and MEMS design of its light engines, the new site in Jena will focus on the optical interfaces, OQmented’s public relations manager, Judith Woehl, told EE Times Europe. For over a century, optics and photonics have defined Jena as a city of light. It is home to multinational corporations as well as startups, two universities and twelve research institutes and, according to the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, Jena’s innovative strength is demonstrated by the approximately 250 patents filed each year. OQmented said it is already intensively cooperating with a local engineering company for optical systems. It is a member of the OptoNet photonics network and plans to play an active role in meetups. It is also partnering with an optics design house and potential manufacturing partner. When asked about the complementarity skills that OQmented Jena wants to leverage for the development of AR smart glasses and other Metaverse solutions, Woehl mentioned optical design, design and layout of optical systems, point of contact to potential suppliers, and networking (universities and research). Woehl added, “We believe that we also add to Jena’s skill set by offering augmented reality as an application for their optical know-how. The combination with our micro-production expertise allows to innovate in conventional, traditional optics for mass production.” OQmented said it plans to double its size by the end of the year. Today, the German startup has 50 full-time employees as well as interns and student employees. The startup is mainly looking for talents with a background in electrical engineering, physics (optics), mechatronics or computer engineering, particularly with skills in MEMS design, manufacturing, characterization and testing, ASIC development and testing, FPGA development and testing, conception and layout of optomechanical/optoelectronic systems, optical measurement, embedded systems, machine learning and data science – a rather large variety that is needed to build the complete light engine (check OQmented’s open positions here). Full story here
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