UMC and Metalenz Partner to Bring Metasurface Optics to the Open Market

United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and Metalenz announced that they have partnered to bring metasurface optics to the open market. UMC's 12-inch wafer fab in Singapore will start producing Metalenz's metasurface optics, which are a type of experimental optics that are used in 3D depth-sensing design.

Metasurface optics are made up of tiny, patterned structures that can be used to control the way light interacts with a surface. This allows for the creation of lenses and other optical components that are much smaller and lighter than traditional optics. Metalenz says that its metasurface optics are up to 100 times smaller and 10 times lighter than traditional optics, and they can be used to create 3D depth sensors that are much smaller and more efficient than current sensors.

The partnership between UMC and Metalenz is a significant step forward for the commercialization of metasurface optics. UMC is a leading semiconductor foundry, and its 12-inch wafer fab in Singapore is one of the most advanced in the world. This means that UMC will be able to produce Metalenz's metasurface optics at scale and at a high quality.

The partnership also expands UMC's offering into meta-optics. Meta-optics is a rapidly growing field, and UMC is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. The company has a strong track record in the semiconductor industry, and it has the resources and expertise to bring meta-optics to the mass market.

The launch of metasurface optics on the open market is a significant development for the optics industry. Metasurface optics offer several advantages over traditional optics, and they are expected to have a major impact on a wide range of applications, including 3D depth sensing, augmented reality, and virtual reality.

The partnership between UMC and Metalenz is a major step forward for the commercialization of metasurface optics. UMC's 12-inch wafer fab in Singapore will allow Metalenz to produce its metasurface optics at scale and at a high quality. This will help to make metasurface optics more affordable and accessible, and it will accelerate the adoption of this technology in a wide range of applications.