MicroVision, Inc

MicroVision, Inc. is an American company that develops laser scanning technology for projection, 3D sensing, and image capture. MicroVision's display technology uses a micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) scanning mirror with red, green, blue, and infrared lasers, optics and electronics to project and/or capture images.

Business

The company sells and licenses its products primarily to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Microsoft, Pioneer, Sharp, and Sony in the projector and Augmented reality market. The same is also the goal in the automotive sector for lidar devices.

The company also has the US military as a customer. Directly about an order at the beginning of the millennium. Further, the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) is based on the Microsoft HoloLens 2, which in turn uses Microvision projectors. Microvision is bound by non-disclosure agreements, so Microvision has never confirmed that Microsoft is using the projectors in IVAS but said that Microsoft addressed with HoloLens 2 the military market among other markets. At the same time, the company has also refused to deny their military use.

With their first quarter 2020 financial results, MicroVision announced the potential sale of the company.

Production

Production partner for components is STMicroelectronics.

Technology

The MEMS scanning micro-mirror is the basis of MicroVision’s technology platform. The MEMS design consists of a silicon device with a millimeter-scale mirror at the center. The mirror is connected to flexures that allow it to swing vertically and horizontally to display (or capture) an image. In projection-mode the MEMS laser beam scanning display method can be compared to raster scanning in a cathode ray tube (CRT) display.

Product applications

Product applications include interactive laser projection module, mobile projection, virtual retinal display, head-mounted display, augmented reality and smartglasses micro-display modules, automotive head-up display, consumer lidar, and automotive lidar modules. The technology has also been used in a smartphone by the manufacturer Blackview.

In April 2017, Microvision entered into a license agreement with Microsoft to use company's display technology to manufacture and sell display-only engines for HoloLens 2.

Automotive Lidar

Microvision develops an automotive lidar for release in 2022.

Compatibility

It is supported on NVIDIA Drive Autonomous Vehicle Platform.

Laser safety

MicroVision's MAVIN DR Dynamic Range Lidar is a Class 1 laser compliant product according specifications by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Specifications

Preliminary specifications are:

Supported speed

Microvision states that the lidar system is suitable for highway speeds up to Autobahn speeds ( 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph)) due to low latency while maintaining high resolution.

Development focus

In particular, the focus of the development is to address critical user scenarios:

* Changing Lighting Conditions
* Changing Lighting Conditions and Tunnels
* Hidden Vehicle
* On-Ramp Merge
* Moving Vehicles

Test Vehicles

Microvision has in 2022 two test vehicles, one in the US, one in Germany.

A-Sample

Products

MAVIN is the first automotive lidar product. It should be available in 2022.

Augmented reality projectors

Microsoft HoloLens 2

Microsoft Integrated Visual Augmentation System

The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) is based on the Microsoft HoloLens 2, which in turn uses Microvision projectors.
File:IVAS CS4 Testing Alaska 1.jpg, Integrated Visual Augmentation System is based on HoloLens 2 that uses Microvision projectors

Microvision Nomad

Automotive head-up display

Pioneer CYBER NAVI with integrated Microvision HUD

Projectors

All projectors have the unique feature that the projected image is always in focus.

Microvision

= ShowWX

=
This was the first projector sold by Microvision to end customers.
File:Pico Proyector Showwx de Microvision.jpg

= ShowWX+

=
This was an updated version of the ShowWX+.

Celluon

= PicoAir

=
The Celluon PicoAir uses the Sony projector module that uses licensed Microvision technology.
File:Celluon PicoAir Gold.jpg, Celluon PicoAir Gold

= PicoPro

=
The Celluon PicoPro uses the Sony projector module that uses licensed Microvision technology.

= PicoBit

=
The Celluon PicoBit uses the Sony projector module that uses licensed Microvision technology.

Sony

Sony projector modules are based on licensed Microvision technology. These are the best projectors with the highest resolutions using Microvision technologies. Only the Microvision modules for the HoloLens 2 have a higher resolution.

= MP-CL1

=
Sony PM-CL1 was the first real laser projector from Sony.

File:Sony MC-CL1.jpg, Sony MC-CL1
File:Sony MP-CL1 (left side).jpg, Sony MP-CL1 (left side)
File:Sony MP-CL1 (underside).jpg, Sony MP-CL1 (underside)

= MP-CL1A

=
The MP-CL1A has the same specifications as the MP-CL1 but an updated case and stand.

Smartphones

All projectors have the unique feature that the projected image is always in focus.

= Ragenthek Voga V

=
Ragentek, a Chinese-based smartphone manufacturer and solution company placed a $6.7 million order with MicroVision in March 2017 for a customized display engine, PSE-0403-103. Ragenthek released later in 2017 the smartphone with a Microvision projector inside. This engine, PSE-0403-103, uses the same MEMS and ASICS components as the standard MicroVision PSE-0403-101 engine and has the same performance characteristics, including an always-in-focus, high definition image from a small, low power engine. The smartphone has a weight of 203 g and a high (including projector) of 10 mm.

= Allview X4 Soul Vision

=
Poland-based Allview released 2017 the Ragenhek smartphone in Europe as X4 Soul Vision for a price of 499 Euro. It has also a high of only 10 mm.

= Blackview Max

=

Sharp Robohon

Barcode scanner

File:Microvision Flic Wireless Barcode Scanner.jpg, Wireless barcode scanner developed by MicroVision uses Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)

Operations

Microvision has operations in Redmond and Nuremberg.

Competitors

MicroVision's competitors are MEMS companies like STMicroelectronics and Bosch Sensortec GmbH as well as lidar companies like Aeva Inc., AEye Inc., Luminar Technologies, Ouster, or Velodyne Lidar. Competitor Innoviz Technologies Ltd. from Israel won in 2022 a lidar design with CARIAD SE for cars of the Volkswagen Group.

Stock

In April 2021, the company's stock price surged after being discussed on the subreddit WallStreetBets, and was up more than 7,600% over the past year.

References

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External links

Official website

Companies based in Redmond, Washington
Information technology companies of the United States