Tyndall spinoff Vivid Photonics boosts image quality in AR applications

04 Mar 2025

Horizontal Cavity Surface Emitting Super Luminescent Diode technology said to be “ground breaking”.

Image quality of headsets and portability of lightweight smart glasses.

The company has developed what it calls a “groundbreaking” Horizontal Cavity Surface Emitting Super Luminescent Diode (SLD) technology – the first of its kind globally – which, Vivid says, “is set to revolutionize image quality in augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications”.

Vivid’s light source technology is designed to deliver superior image quality in compact, ultra-low-power, lightweight AR devices such as smart glasses, enabling seamless integration into everyday experiences, the company stated. The approach is described in detail in this paper.

“Years of advanced research at Tyndall have produced breakthrough manufacturing processes that will revolutionize how we generate projected light for small, lightweight AR glasses,” said Chris Gorman, CEO of Vivid Photonics. “The image quality we expect to achieve will be on par with real life.”

Vivid adds that the technology has the potential to make a significant impact in fields ranging from education and medicine to environmental science and entertainment.

Vivid leaders: Muhammet Genc and Chris Gorman.

Professor Paul Townsend, Director of IPIC and Head of Photonics at Tyndall, said, “I am thrilled to see the commercialisation of this latest innovation from Brian Corbett’s world-leading photonics research group. This is a fantastic example of how investment in cutting-edge photonics research, through programmes like IPIC, can generate real-world impact.”

The team behind Vivid, including Brian Corbett, has extensive industry experience. Corbett has been instrumental in the success of several spin-out companies, including InfiniLED, which was acquired by Meta in 2016.

Professor William Scanlon, CEO of Tyndall, highlighted the potential of the technology, stating, “Vivid Photonics’ technology is set to redefine how the digital and physical worlds interact. This spin-out is a testament to Tyndall’s excellence in photonics research, and we look forward to the profound impact this technology will have across a range of applications.”

Dr. Sally Cudmore, Director of UCC Innovation, added, “It is exciting to see many years of Tyndall and UCC research come to fruition with the creation of this photonics spin-out. The UCC Innovation team has supported the project from inception to spin-out, and I congratulate the research team on their entrepreneurial journey. Vivid Photonics will continue to develop Tyndall’s SLD technology into products that will generate economic and social impact.”

Vivid’s Horizontal Cavity Surface Emitting SLDs deliver superior image quality, energy efficiency, and compact designs – suitable for AR and computer-generated holography (CGH) applications.