Optical semiconductor company Lumotive has announced a commercial agreement with camera module specialist Namuga. The partnership will involve the use of Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface (LCM™) chipsets to develop solid-state lidar modules for various 3D sensing applications in the industrial, consumer, and automotive markets.

Namuga, a publicly-traded company in South Korea, specializes in the development and production of cameras and 3D sensing modules. The company supplies components for consumer electronics products such as smartphones, notebooks, and smart home automation devices. Namuga is also a key supplier for Samsung Electronics’ flagship smartphones and provides capabilities for smart devices like drones and Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs).

By collaborating with Lumotive, Namuga aims to tap into the market potential of pure solid-state lidar, made possible by Lumotive’s LCM digital beam steering technology. This technology uses metamaterials to steer the laser beam without any moving parts, overcoming the limitations of traditional mechanical beam steering systems in terms of size, scalability, and reliability. Namuga’s expertise in miniaturization, combined with Lumotive’s LCM technology, will enable lidar to be used in new domains of 3D sensing where compactness and weight are crucial.

Through this partnership, Namuga plans to develop next-generation solid-state lidar modules for applications beyond robotic automation solutions. This includes sectors such as services, homecare, and logistics. The collaboration will enhance Namuga’s capabilities in perceiving surroundings and open up opportunities in future ventures, including autonomous driving vehicles.

Both companies express excitement about the partnership. Lumotive’s CEO, Dr. Sam Heidari, highlights the importance of partnering with sensor makers like Namuga to make solid-state lidar more accessible. Namuga’s CEO, Tae Youn Won, sees the partnership as an opportunity to accelerate the development of lidar technology and gain a competitive advantage in the global market.

Lumotive’s optical semiconductor solutions are known for their advanced sensing and perception capabilities. The company’s LCM beam steering chips combine high performance, exceptional reliability, and low cost in a small and integrated solution. Lumotive has received industry recognition, including the Fierce Electronics’ 2021 Startup of the Year award and multiple CES Innovation Awards.

Namuga, on the other hand, specializes in compact camera modules used in various fields, including smartphones, automotive, home IoT, and robotics. The company is a pioneer in the next-generation 3D sensing camera module market.

Investors in Lumotive include Gates Frontier, MetaVC Partners, Quan Funds, Samsung Ventures, Uniquest, and USAA.

 

TrendForce 2023 Infrared Sensing Application Market and Branding Strategies
Release: 01 January 2023
Format: PDF
Language: Traditional Chinese / English
Page: 164