Forth Dimension Displays at Laser – World of Photonics 2019

Posted on by Henning Molsen

At Laser – World of Photonics in Munich (24 – 27 June 2019, Messe München) Forth Dimension Displays will present its updated range of Spatial Light Modulators (SLM) and microdisplays with new interface options.

The high resolution SLMs are known for their fast and stable structured light applications using binary phase modulation or binary amplitude modulation.

Please visit Hall B2 – Booth 129 to experience our new 2k x 2k, 4.1 MPixel microdisplay integrated into a 34° field of view monoviewer for high-end Near-To-Eye applications (AR, MR) applying the unique Time Domain Imaging technology.

Forth Dimension Displays at SPIE DCS 2019 in Baltimore

Posted on by Henning Molsen
Visit Forth Dimension Displays / Kopin at SPIE DCS 2019!

Kopin, a provider of high performance display components, subsystems and systems for the military, industrial, professional, medical and training markets, will be exhibiting at SPIE DCS 2019 from April 16-18th at the Baltimore Convention Center. Stop by booth #553 to see our latest high performance ruggedized microdisplay solutions.

Kopin’s offerings include LCD, FLCOS and OLED displays designed for high performance, long life and high reliability in demanding environments. Kopin’s display products are ideally suited for use in high brightness AR products, such as pilots’ helmets, rifle scopes, soldier visualization systems, image guided surgery and synthetic/embedded training.

Forth Dimension Displays’ specific products on the booth are the new 2k x 2k FLCOS, the RGB LED illuminator and a 3D demonstrator of the QXGA 2048 x 1536 pixel microdisplay.

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

Forth Dimension Displays at Photonics West 2019

Posted on by Henning Molsen

At Photonics West 2019 in San Francisco (5-7 February 2019, Moscone Centre) Forth Dimension Displays will present its range of Spatial Light Modulators (SLM) and microdisplays.

The high resolution SLMs are known for their fast and stable structured light applications using binary phase modulation or binary amplitude modulation.

Please visit Booth 1651 – South Hall inside the Scottish Pavilion- to experience our new 2k x 2k, 4.1 MPixel microdisplay integrated into a monoviewer.

Forth Dimension Displays at Photonics West 2018

Posted on by Henning Molsen

At Photonics West 2018 in San Francisco (30th January – 1st February 2018, Moscone Centre) Forth Dimension Displays will present its range of Spatial Light Modulators (SLM).

The high resolution SLMs are known for their fast and stable structured light applications using binary phase modulation or binary amplitude modulation.

Please visit Booth 317 – South Hall inside the Scottish Pavilion- to learn more about our new interface solutions for the 3.1 MPixel and the 1.3 MPixel SLM.

The improvements to the interface boards cut power and space requirements while adding new features.

In addition, Near-To-Eye applications of ForthDD’s microdisplays and Kopin‘s wearable devices will be on exhibition.

Forth Dimension Displays to attend Nepcon South China

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD), a leading provider of high-resolution Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) Microdisplays and Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) will be attending at Nepcon South China in Shenzhen.

ForthDD’s team is about to depart for the Nepcon South China exhibition, the leading show for PCB inspection equipment in the Hong Kong area. Held from 29 – 31 August 2017 in Shenzhen, ForthDD will meet current and new customers engaged in the field of 3D optical metrology like 3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and 3D Solder Paste Inspection (SPI).

The 1.3MPixel SXGA-3DM SLM has a leading position in the in-line 3D AOI PCB inspection and measurement market. Integrated in structured light projectors it’s showing multi-frequency Moiré patterns at speeds enabling in-line inspection. The more recent 2048 x 1536 pixel QXGA-3DM SLM builds upon this track record by enabling even higher resolution structured light projectors to be built.

QXGA 3DM Forth Dimension Displays

The SXGA-3DM and the QXGA-3DM combine an industry proven SLM technology with a specific non-video drive interface dedicated to metrology applications. The drive interface is capable of storing up to 1024 full resolution images. Bi-directional trigger signals ensure accurate synchronization with other system components such as cameras, light sources and translation tables.

To request a meeting during Nepcon South China, please write to sales@forthdd.com.

 

Forth Dimension Displays launches QXGA-3DM Spatial Light Modulator

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD), a leading provider of high-resolution Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) Microdisplays and Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) is pleased to announce the launch of its all-new 3.1MPixel QXGA-3DM SLM at Photonics West 2015, booth 1123.

ForthDD’s 1.3MPixel SXGA-3DM SLM has a leading position in the 3D AOI PCB inspection and measurement market as well as being used for applications as diverse as silicon wafer inspection and super resolution microscopy.

The 2048 x 1536 pixel QXGA-3DM SLM builds upon this track record by enabling even higher resolution structured light systems to be built. Applications that will benefit from this increased performance include 3D inspection of System in Package (SiP) devices and Lattice Light Sheet Microscopy. Recognising the benefits of the increased resolution in leading edge imaging techniques, the first production shipment of a QXGA-3DM will go to long time ForthDD customer Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for use by Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2014 winner Dr. Eric Betzig’s team.

QXGA 3DM Forth Dimension Displays

The QXGA-3DM combines an industry proven microdisplay with a powerful application specific non-video drive interface. The system can be programmed offline, through the RS-232, RS-485 and USB interfaces, and no controller PC is required for normal operation. The drive interface is capable of storing up to 1024 full resolution images. Bi-directional trigger signals ensure accurate synchronization with other system components such as cameras and translation tables.

The small form factor and light weight of the QXGA-3DM gives system integrators the flexibility to design the display into their existing applications, without compromising the original mechanical design, resulting in a reduced time to market.

Mr Greg Truman, CEO of FDD said, “Our SXGA-3DM is in 24/7 use around the world in the most advanced inspection and imaging systems. In response to demand from our customers for even higher resolutions and performance, we are pleased to launch our new QXGA-3DM product. This will allow our customers to image and inspect even smaller feature sizes and further expand the range of applications for structured light systems.”

THE MINIMAX PRINCIPLE

Posted on by Henning Molsen

Tiny microdisplays are revolutionising optics with high resolution images that are mirrored directly in front of the eye. Viewers feel they are in the thick of the action, and especially pilots will appreciate the benefits in flight simulations.

The secret market leader in this field is the Scottish company Forth Dimension Displays. “Big is beautiful” is the motto when it comes to displays, yet what holds true for consumers, turns into the very opposite for scientific and engineering applications. Instead, true adepts in their fields extract the maximum out of miniaturised monitors – like the Adlershof subsidiary of the Scottish company Forth Dimension Displays.

The company conjures brilliant images from displays that wouldn’t even cover a postage stamp.

The trick: magnifying optics integrated in special goggles, so called head mounted displays (HMDs), mirror the images directly in front of the eye, giving rise to a realism that has brought customers running to Forth Dimension, above all providers of training and simulation systems and imaging techniques in medical engineering, measurement technologies and film production, including the ARRI Group and EADS Astrium N.V. A great many flight simulations are equipped with these microdisplays, and surgeons can pop open MRT images before their eyes while they are operating.

But why the “forth dimension” for this so called near to eye (NTE) technology? Nigel Cartwright, Managing Development Engineer, laughed: “It’s a play on words. On the one hand, our head office in Scotland is on the river Forth, and on the other we interpret time to be the fourth dimension.”

And time is essential for this new technology. At its heart are special liquid crystals, so called liquid crystals on silicon (LCOS), used to make up the displays. LCOS reflect light at great speed.

Not only that, the material allows Forth Dimension to depict the whole colour spectrum on only the one pixel in the image – circumventing the usual procedure of distributing red, green and blue light over a number of pixels.

The result is high resolution display build up. “We are the world market leader in the field of high resolution NTE displays,” added Cartwright. “Our key market is Europe, above all here in Germany.” Adlershof was therefore ideal owing to its central location.

“Moreover, we’re hoping to cooperate with research institutes,” he emphasised. Incidentally, the displays do full justice to a peculiar Scottish discipline: They’re not only miserly in size, but also in energy consumption. by Chris Löwer

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