Forth Dimension Displays wins $1 Million Order from Nexstar Technology (South Korea)

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays expands its Korean customer base for 3D inspection

Forth Dimension Displays Limited (ForthDD) has secured a $1 million production order from Nexstar Technology Co., Ltd. (Nexstar), headquartered in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The order is to provide Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) for Nexstar’s new Nexman GENIO series of 3D Automated Optical Inspection (3D AOI) and 3D Solder Paste Inspection (3D SPI) equipment.

ForthDD, a subsidiary of Kopin, is a manufacturer of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon (FLCOS) SLM systems designed specifically for the growing 3D AOI, 3D SPI and 3D Metrology markets. Nexstar is a leading South Korean inspection equipment manufacturer that supplies machinery to East Asian manufacturers of a wide range of electronic products such as printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), semiconductors, batteries, displays and mobile device components.

Published market research forecasts that the 3D AOI systems market will continue growing by approximately 16% annually from $750M in 2020 to $1.58B in 2025. Factors fueling this growth include increasing demands for higher productivity and quality from EMS companies and the rising demand for 3D AOI systems in the automotive electronics market. Having secured this production order from Nexstar, ForthDD is now supplying its SLMs to three leading South Korean inspection equipment manufacturers who are in mass production.

SLMs are a key component of 3D AOI/SPI equipment. The SLM is used to project structured light onto the PCBAs being measured by the 3D AOI/SPI machine. The ability to use this technology to measure component placement/solder paste in all three dimensions, on every board in real time, enables companies to do 100% inspection of populated PCBAs while also monitoring trends and improving yields which reduces waste and cost. Such advanced equipment is especially important for the growing electric vehicle market. ForthDD’s high resolution, fast switching, all digital FLCOS SLM with a dedicated interface board is the center piece of ForthDD’s products for the 3D AOI market, as exemplified by the SXGA-R12 and the QXGA-R11(-3DM).

Jeong Duck Kim, CEO of Nexstar, said, “ForthDD’s FLCOS SLM technology has a reputation in the market for enabling 3D AOI and SPI machines to deliver fast, reliable and accurate results, and we are excited to be partnering with them on our Nexman GENIO range of products.”

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD, said, “We are delighted to be selected to supply the key projection component for Nexstar’s new 3D AOI and SPI products. Winning Nexstar’s business is another vote of confidence in ForthDD by the marketplace. With this news, we are now supplying our high speed, high performance SLMs to three leading Korean 3D inspection equipment manufacturers, in addition to other key manufacturers in China, Japan and Germany.”

Nexstar’s 3D AOI product “Nexman Genios”

Forth Dimension Displays secures $3.4M 2022 Purchase Commitment from JUTZE Intelligence Technology

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays, a subsidiary of Kopin, continues to grow business with Chinese Inspection Equipment Manufacturer Jutze

Forth Dimension Displays Limited (ForthDD), has secured a $3.4 million order commitment from JUTZE Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (JUTZE) (Shenzhen Stock Exchange: SHE:300802). The order is to provide Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) for JUTZE’s Edge series of 3D Automated Optical Inspection (3D AOI) and Mirage series of 3D Solder Paste Inspection (3D SPI) equipment, with expected deliveries through 2022.

ForthDD is a manufacturer of SLMs designed specifically for the 3D SPI, 3D AOI and 3D Metrology markets. JUTZE is a leading Chinese inline inspection equipment manufacturer that supplies equipment to tier one Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) companies providing services to global consumer and automotive brands.

Published market research forecasts that the 3D AOI systems market will continue to grow by approximately 16% annually from $750M in 2020 to $1.58B in 2025. The increasing demand for higher productivity from EMS companies and the rising need for 3D AOI systems in automotive electronics are factors fueling this growth.

SLMs are a key component of 3D AOI/SPI equipment. The SLM is used to project structured light onto the PCA/PCB being measured by the 3D AOI/SPI machine. The ability to use this technology to measure component placement/solder paste in all three dimensions, on every board in real time, enables companies to improve yields and product quality while reducing waste and cost. Such advanced equipment is especially important for the growing electric vehicle market. ForthDD’s SXGA (1280 x 1024) high resolution, fast switching, all digital, high performance, proprietary ferroelectric liquid crystal reflective display is the center piece of ForthDD’s SXGA-R12 SLM product.

Karl Yang, CEO of JUTZE said, “JUTZE has been using ForthDD’s SLMs for a number of years and we feel that it is the most reliable and accurate technology for our inline inspection equipment. ForthDD’s SLMs have undoubtedly played a key role in growing JUTZE’s market share to where it is today.”

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD said, “We are supplying SLMs to major vendors of 3D AOI and SPI equipment in Germany, Japan, South Korea and China, with the China market showing the strongest growth over the last few years. JUTZE is a leading 3D AOI manufacturer in China, and their renewed commitment to using ForthDD’s SLMs in their equipment is a strong testament to the performance and reliability of our products.”

About JUTZE Intelligence Technology

JUTZE Intelligence Technology Co. LTD is a subsidiary of JUTZE Group of Suzhou, PRC. JUTZE Intelligence Technology is a professional visual inspection equipment manufacturer. Founded in 2007, and with its innovative vision inspection technology, JUTZE Intelligence Technology soon became one of the industry leaders in the Chinese inspection market. The company’s product range includes AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) and SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) machines for SMT lines, Inline LED inspection equipment and Laser Markers. For more information, please visit JUTZE’s website at http://www.jutze.com.cn/en/.

3i’s new Microscopes use binary SLMs

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays’ LCOS-based Fast Switching Binary Modulators enable new Ultra-Fast, High-Resolution Microscopes

Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD) and Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i), a Colorado-based manufacturer of fluorescence microscope systems for biomedical research, expanded their collaboration with the launch of 3i’s Cleared Tissue LightSheet (CTLS) product. CTLS can image whole organs at high speed by illuminating them with structured light using ForthDD’s proprietary high-resolution, fast Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs).

Similar to other fluorescence microscope techniques, CTLS uses laser light to stimulate fluorescence emission from genetically-labelled – or stained – tissue to form an image of the specimen. The Cleared Tissue LightSheet creates a finely focused sheet of light for optical sectioning, then uses ForthDD’s SLM to rapidly shift the thinnest portion of the sheet in synchronization with the microscope and camera resulting in ultra-fast and high-resolution imaging of large specimens. Piezoelectric stages move the specimen in x, y, and z directions with sub-micron precision. The emission from the fluorescent markers in the specimen is recorded by a camera and 3i SlideBook software automatically and precisely reconstructs the biological structure in 3D for further analysis. Hundreds to thousands of images are required to create a 3D image of the tissue sample.

3i also integrates ForthDD’s SLMs into their live cell imaging system Lattice LightSheet (LLS). The SLM is used to create an ultra-thin lattice light sheet which can be quickly adjusted for biological conditions on-the-fly due to the flexibility and speed of ForthDD’s SLM. LLS enables spatiotemporal super-resolution imaging of dynamic cellular processes with ultra-fast capture speeds and high resolution, while limiting laser light damage to the cells. LLS can also be used to perform structured illumination microscopy (SIM), a super-resolution technique that improves the spatial resolution to the low 100’s of nanometers.

“Spatial light modulators provide outstanding value, increasing the speed and resolution of research microscopes,” Brian Bodensteiner, Vice President Development of 3i said, “ForthDD’s SLM technology is designed to allow for the flexibility, performance, and hardware-timing demanded by advanced light microscopy applications.”

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD said, “The development of super-resolution techniques has been a remarkable achievement and ForthDD is very pleased that our fast binary SLMs are a key enabler for microscope developers and biologists around the globe. The new microscopes are now being used in the life sciences industry to enhance the understanding of the biological structures. ForthDD is committed to supporting its customers to create their most advanced products.”

GOEPEL Electronic Drives Quality Control in SMT Manufacturing with Imagers from Forth Dimension Displays

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays Supplies Leading German SMT Inspection Equipment Manufacturer

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of high-resolution microdisplays and microdisplay subassemblies, today announced that Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) and matching LED drivers from its wholly-owned subsidiary, Forth Dimension Displays Limited (ForthDD), have been chosen for integration into GOEPEL electronic GmbH (GOEPEL) 3D AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) and 3D SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) products. GOEPEL, based in Germany, is a leading inline inspection equipment manufacturer for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production lines.

The 3D SPI measures solder paste in all three dimensions, on every PCB in real time, enabling improved yields and product quality while reducing waste and cost. The SLM projects structured light onto the PCB being inspected by the 3D SPI machine. The soldering quality of the assembled PCB is inspected by 3D AOI by a similar process. ForthDD’s SXGA (1280 x 1024 pixels) and QXGA (2048 x 1536 pixels) microdisplays utilizing Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal are fast switching, all digital, high performance reflective SLM products. Designed for inline 3D inspection applications, the newly released SXGA-R12 drive board has a smaller form factor. The QXGA-R11 provides a higher resolution option. Both products can be equipped with the optional M137 LED drive board.

André Hacke, Manager R&D in the Inspection Solutions Division of GOEPEL said, “We are very pleased to have integrated ForthDD’s SLMs and LED drivers into our 3D AOI and SPI systems. The increasing importance of electronics in the automotive industry and its demand for zero failure rates are key drivers of quality control in SMT lines. Improvements in the performance of our systems, with the help of ForthDD’s products, is paramount to meet the demands of the industry.”

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD said, “We are excited that our efforts to significantly reduce the product size, while adding additional functionalities, have helped GOEPEL to improve its system. ForthDD is the leading supplier of microdisplays for the 3D SPI, 3D AOI and 3D metrology markets. ForthDD’s microdisplays enable transformation of the traditional 2D AOI and SPI equipment to 3D inspection equipment. Published market research reports forecast that the 3D AOI market and 3D SPI will grow by approximately 16% annually to $1.35B by 2024.”

About GOEPEL Electronic

GOEPEL Electronic is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Embedded JTAG Solutions (including JTAG/Boundary Scan Test Equipment), Automotive Test Solutions and Automated Optical and X-Ray Inspection equipment (AOI, AXI, and SPI systems) for the test and inspection of printed circuit board assemblies. It is our mission to provide intelligent solutions to challenging customer test applications and problems through high technical prowess, creativity, and innovation, combined with exceptional customer service and support. Find out more at www.goepel.com

Forth Dimension Displays Develops 2560 x 1440 FLCOS Microdisplay for Rugged Applications

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays Develops 2560 x 1440 FLCOS Microdisplay for Rugged Applications

Breakthrough 0.95-Inch Display using Wide-Temperature Range Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal

Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of innovative wearable computing technologies and solutions, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD) has developed a new WQHD (2560 x 1440 resolution) full-color Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon (FLCOS) microdisplay for use in extreme temperature and shock environments. The new display incorporates ForthDD’s proprietary Wide Temperature Range Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal (WTR FLC) material to operate over extended temperature ranges, which enables it to be used in a variety of previously unsupported rugged applications such as automotive, defense and avionics.

“FLCOS displays provide superior fill factor, color purity, and fast switching speeds which produces very high quality imagery, but historically ferroelectric liquid crystals have been restricted to limited temperature range applications,” said Greg Truman, Forth Dimension Displays’ Managing Director. “The breakthrough provided by our WTR FLC performance together with the very high resolution of the our WQHD display allows us to support resolutions that exceed the limits of our Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (AMLCD) and brightness levels that exceed the capability of Organic Light Emitting Diode displays (OLEDs). The innovation provided by our WTR FLC, which has passed environmental and reliability tests, opens up many new applications and markets including high volume US defense product applications.”

The WQHD display with 8.2-micron pixels utilizes ForthDD’s patented Time Domain Imaging (TDI™) technique to produce superior full color imagery and no perceptible motion artifacts. The specialized ultra-fast ForthDD FLCOS overcomes the motion artifacts of standard Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) displays. The display is generally available as a Board Level Product with fully integrated driver and optional illumination subsystem later in 2020. WQHD displays have now been fully tested and are undergoing system qualification with the first defense customer as a part of fully integrated Kopin display systems, which incorporate the display with Kopin electronics, optics and system packaging elements.

“The availability of the new WQHD display gives us another microdisplay technology in our defense and enterprise product offerings and is ideal for use in systems needing cutting-edge high resolution and bright full color video images without color breakup,” said Bill Maffucci, Kopin’s Vice President/General Manager of Government and Professional Products. “The unique WQHD display is an excellent complement to our AMLCD displays which are primarily for soldier centric systems. As a result, it provides Kopin with the opportunity to open up new markets such as ground vehicle platforms. These market segments have been largely supported by CRT technology and represent a significant potential growth area facilitated by the new WQHD display.”

Forth Dimension Displays and VividQ Collaborate on Holographic 3D Mixed Reality Headset

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays and VividQ Collaborate on Holographic 3D Mixed Reality Headset

Forth Dimension Displays Limited, (ForthDD), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kopin Corporation, is collaborating with VividQ on holographic 3D in mixed reality headsets that provide real depth perception. VividQ, based in London and Cambridge, England offers algorithms to generate full colour 3D holographic images in real time using phase modulation technology. ForthDD is a manufacturer of fast high-resolution Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) based on ferroelectric liquid crystal on silicon designed to offer phase modulation at speeds well below 1 ms.

Augmented Reality (AR) and the related areas of Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are widely seen as the next step in interaction with digital information. However, there are still several challenging issues, especially the representation of true 3D imagery. AR headsets today are largely unable to display images across more than two distinct focal planes. This causes virtual objects to jump in the viewer’s perception when they move across varying depths. It also triggers nausea due to the lack of correct eye convergence, as there is a gap between the position of an object expected by the human visual system and the actual position in the virtual image. Computer-generated holography (CGH) with true 3D imagery will eliminate the nausea caused by this accommodation-vergence conflict.

Darran Milne, CEO of VividQ said, “VividQ’s engine for real-time 3D hologram generation finally allows CGH to break out of the lab to be used in consumer devices like mixed reality headsets or head-up displays. We are committed to becoming the software foundation that powers the first generation of true holographic 3D display devices. To demonstrate the huge potential of this technology, we have recently created the world’s first fully holographic MR headset, which we showcased at SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, 5-7 February 2019.”

“The key differentiator in these headsets is that ForthDD’s SLMs are used as phase modulators, not amplitude modulators,” said Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD. “CGH relies on the SLM modulating the phase of incoming laser light and projecting diffracted light into the user’s eye. Unlike microdisplays using amplitude modulation, CGH shows true 3D natural vision-like overlay of imagery in AR headsets. Our 2048 x 1536 pixel QXGA SLM is a fast switching, all digital, high performance reflective SLM product designed for binary phase modulation. In real-time holography applications, ForthDD’s Time Domain Imaging™ technology and CGH-specific image generation are successfully combined and delivered.”

About VividQ

VividQ is a UK-based software company with world-leading expertise in 3D holography: the next generation display technology. VividQ offers the complete platform to power full 3D holographic display in AR headsets, Head-Up Displays and beyond. The company’s proprietary software engine Core makes holography a viable commercial display solution for the first time. Since its inception in February 2017, VividQ has worked with largest consumer electronics and embedded systems manufacturers around the world. Learn more at www.vivid-q.com

ForthDD Reaches Agreement to Supply Displays to JUTZE Intelligence Technology

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays To Supply Leading Chinese Inspection Equipment Manufacturer

November 19, 2018 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

WESTBOROUGH, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading developer of innovative wearable computing technologies and solutions, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Forth Dimension Displays Limited, (ForthDD), has entered into an agreement with JUTZE Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (JUTZE) to provide displays for their Mirage series of 3D SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) equipment.

ForthDD is a manufacturer of Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) designed specifically for the 3D SPI, 3D AOI and 3D metrology markets. JUTZE is a leading Chinese inline inspection equipment manufacturer.

Published market research reports forecast that the AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) market (which includes the SPI market) will grow by approximately 16% annually from $350M in 2015 to $1.35B in 2024, with the market in 2023 being more than twice the size of that in 2018. The Asia Pacific region is forecast to have the most systems deployed.

SLMs are a key component of 3D SPI equipment. The SLM is used to project structured light onto the PCB being measured by the 3D SPI machine. The ability to use 3D SPI to measure solder paste in all three dimensions, on every PCB in real time, enables companies to improve yields and product quality while reducing wastage and cost. ForthDD’s SXGA is a fast switching, all digital, high performance reflective Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) product. Designed for inline 3D inspection applications, the widely used SXGA-3DM and newly released smaller form factor SXGA-R12 and M137 LED driver features the industry proven SXGA (1280 x 1024) Time Domain Imaging™ display with a 3D metrology specific display drive interface.

Karl Yang, CEO of JUTZE said, “JUTZE already has a proven position in the market for inline inspection equipment, and partnering with a leading high performance component supplier like ForthDD will enable us to strengthen our position in the 3D SPI market not only in China, but also in other East Asian markets, as well as Europe and the USA.”

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD said, “The market for 3D inline inspection machines is growing rapidly around the globe. ForthDD has a very strong position in the market, supplying leading manufacturers in Germany, Japan and South Korea for both 3D SPI and 3D AOI applications. ForthDD is developing a similarly strong position supplying Chinese 3D SPI and 3D AOI machine manufacturers, and this agreement to supply a leading manufacturer like JUTZE is another indication of our successful expansion into China.”

About Forth Dimension Displays Limited

Forth Dimension Displays has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Kopin Corporation since its acquisition in January 2011. Based in Dalgety Bay, Scotland, UK, the company focuses on the design, development, manufacture and sale of microdisplays and SLMs (Spatial Light Modulators) for professional and technical markets. One of its major markets is the 3D inspection of SMT PCBs where it supplies its SXGA-3DM SLM product to market leading customers in South Korea, Japan, Germany and now, with JUTZE, in China. It has also announced collaborations with iView (PRC) and Lumaxis (USA) where they will develop standard 3D AOI optimized Structured Light Projector modules for customers in these markets.

About JUTZE Intelligence Technology

JUTZE Intelligence Technology Co. LTD is a subsidiary of JUTZE Group of Suzhou, PRC. JUTZE Intelligence Technology is a professional visual inspection equipment manufacturer. Founded in 2007, and with its innovative vision inspection technology, JUTZE Intelligence Technology soon became one of the industry leaders in the Chinese inspection market. The company’s product range includes AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) and SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) machines for SMT lines, Inline LED inspection equipment and Laser Markers.

 

Forth Dimension Displays releases an improved metrology interface for its 1.3 MPixel SXGA SLM

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays, a leading supplier of Spatial Light Modulators (SLM) into the in-line 3D metrology market, has delivered the much improved metrology-specific interface board R12 to the first customers.

These customers are updating their existing product to make best use of the smaller footprint of the R12 interface board, the capability to “daisy-chain” multiple boards and the new, size-matching high power LED drive board. Typically, a 3D metrology application requires to trigger several off-axis structured light projectors sequentially in a daisy-chain to enable shadow-free image analysis. The high power LED driver board matches to today’s brightest and most compact LEDs. Increasing the projector’s brightness reduces the camera exposure times for in-line 3D AOI and 3D SPI significantly, therefore allowing higher in-line inspection speed. The optional LED drive piggy-backs onto the R12 board as shown below, making it a very compact system to be integrated into the structured light projector.

The R12-LED board combination drives the 1 MPixel, WXGA SLM and the 1.3 MPixel, SXGA SLM, both renowned for its fast and precise digital performance. The metrology line-up is completed with the 3.1 MPixel, QXGA-3DM system for an even more detailed stripe projection. The QXGA-3DM can also be equipped with the LED drive board.

As always Forth Dimension Displays offers the complete range of product documentation with the development kit and support for projector design by our application engineering team.

Order code: SXGA-R12-LED, WXGA-R12-LED

 

RGB-LED illuminator introduced by Forth Dimension Displays

Posted on by Henning Molsen

13th March 2018, Scotland – Forth Dimension Displays has introduced a RGB-LED illuminator to its product portfolio. The illuminator works with all of Forth Dimension Displays’ reflective microdisplays and LED drivers. The well-characterized component enables a fast development of full colour optical modules.

The colour coordinates exceed the Rec 709 standard making it desirable for applications like electronic view finders (EVF) but also for Training and Simulation. The RGB-LED illuminator offers homogeneous colour and light output of 6000 cd/m² over a 22 x 16.5 mm aperture despite its small outline dimensions.

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD, said “ForthDD is closing a gap for our customers by introducing this RGB-LED illuminator. To create a high performance illuminator matching our microdislay technology is not an easy task. Therefore, this is an outstanding result of our internal R&D programme. Our customers can shorten the time to market for Near-To-Eye applications using the FLCOS display technology, indeed any reflective LCOS technology. ”

Forth Dimension Displays’ Wide Temperature Range SXGA microdisplay now shipping

Posted on by Henning Molsen

7th September 2017, Scotland – Forth Dimension Displays is shipping this week the first lot of extended temperature range SXGA (1280 x 1024) microdisplays. This marks the successful conclusion of an internal R&D programme to widen the temperature range of the SXGA microdisplay at both, the lower and the upper ends. The introduction of a new ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture now enables the microdisplays to be used in additional outdoor and defence applications. The parts shipped this week include the R5 drive boards and will be used in an aircraft head-up display (HUD).

The FLC is a key component in ForthDD’s unique display technology ferroelectric liquid crystal on silicon (FLCOS) allowing electro-optic switching speed of several kHz at low voltage. The new FLC mixture is compatible with other existing and future microdisplays of ForthDD.

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD, said “ForthDD is proud to announce our extended temperature range microdisplay. It is quite a challenge for a small manufacturing company to improve in-house one of the key materials, in this case the FLC mixture. Building on this learning curve, we are now capable of performing other FLC material optimisations and to meet tough environmental requirements. Our customers can now pursue a wide range of outdoor and defence applications using the FLCOS display technology. ”