The joint effort aims to build on the expertise of both companies to advance the technology and products behind the leading MEMS-mirror-based laser-beam scanning (LBS) solutions in the market.
ST will be contributing its significant MEMS design and manufacturing resources to the collaboration.
OQmented has been moving to further industrialise and mass produce its Bubble MEMS technology, a patented 3D glass-encapsulation approach to hermetic vacuum sealing of the MEMS micro-mirrors. Sealing using these unique glass bubbles eliminates environmental contaminants and reduces light-refraction effects. In fact, vacuum sealing is a key element for meeting automotive-grade requirements, while simultaneously reducing power consumption by an order of magnitude and enhancing performance for resonant, bi-axial scanners, where the MEMS mirrors move in both axes at their resonant frequency, creating an ultra-compact and extremely power-efficient scanning solution.
These resonant mirrors are well suited for display and 3D-sensing applications in mobile devices.
Commenting Dr. Ulrich Hofmann, CEO/CTO and co-founder, OQmented said, “Combining ST’s expertise in developing, marketing, and manufacturing key components for laser-beam scanning solutions with OQmented’s knowledge and intellectual property will contribute greatly to our product offering, manufacturing capacity, and marketing channels, while also expanding the market in numerous application areas.”
“Our goal in working with OQmented is to leverage our shared expertise and deep understanding of LBS technologies with the mutual vision to continue the adoption and growth of LBS in key applications, such as Augmented Reality and 3D sensing,” added Anton Hofmeister, VP and GM MEMS Microactuator Division, STMicroelectronics. “This collaboration further strengthens ST’s position as a world leader in LBS solutions and expands its market outreach to additional opportunities through the Company’s product portfolio of MEMS mirrors and associated components, including ST’s MEMS drivers, controllers, and Laser Diode Drivers.”
ST and OQmented said that they planned to market a wide range of scanning solutions and these would include MEMS mirrors, MEMS drivers and controllers, and complete reference designs of laser-beam scanning engines for a range of applications.
In addition, the companies intend to collaborate on an LBS roadmap and in the development of future technologies and products.
