The video outlines the core technology, manufacturing processes, and commercial goals of MetaOptics flat lens technology as presented at CES 2026:
Company and Technology Overview
- Mission: MetaOptics is a Singapore-based firm specializing in the design and large-scale fabrication of metalenses to replace the bulky traditional lenses currently found in consumer electronics.
- Metalens Design: These “flat lenses” are 2D structures composed of nanometer-scale pillars—with feature sizes as small as 80nm—that use varying diameters and refractive indices to manipulate light.
- Applications: The technology is designed for a wide range of uses, including imaging, facial recognition, sensing, and projection.
Manufacturing and Scalability
- Semiconductor Process: The company leverages standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques, specifically DUV immersion lithography with a 45nm tool, to achieve high yields.
- Glass Substrates: Unlike traditional chips that use silicon, MetaOptics produces its lenses directly on glass wafers.
- Production Capacity: Their current pilot line in Singapore can produce roughly 30 million lenses per year.
- Fab Compatibility: The process uses standard materials like amorphous silicon, titanium dioxide, and silicon nitride, making their proprietary IP easily transferable to large-scale global foundries.
Product Innovation
- Rectangular Metalenses: A major highlight is the shift from traditional circular lenses to rectangular metalenses. This design maximizes the pixel area on image sensors, leading to significantly improved image quality compared to circular optics.
