China-based optical component and lens maker Ofilm Group has stepped into the VR/AR supply chain by establishing a metaverse business unit, according to industry sources.
Ofilm plans to supply optical lenses, imaging modules, optical engine modules for VR/AR devices, and undertake assembly of VR/AR devices or glasses, the sources said.
For optical lenses, Ofilm can provide VR-use aspherical lenses, VR/AR lens modules and VR-use eye-lenses.
For imaging modules, Ofilm will capitalize on its existing R&D and production of smartphone-use imaging modules and 3D sensing modules to provide FPV (first-person view) imaging modules, SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) dual-imaging modules, VR-use eye-tracking modules and VR-use positioning lens modules.
For optical engine modules, Ofilm will develop LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) optical waveguide modules, bird bath-type binocular optical modules, LED optical waveguide modules and pancake optical solutions.
According to IDC, 11.23 million VR/AR devices were shipped globally in 2021, hiking 92.1% on year.
Ofilm used to be a supplier of iPhone-use lens modules, but lost its place in the Apple supply chain due to alleged violations of Uyghur human rights in 2021. Ofilm consequently sold Guangzhou Delta Image Tech in southern China to Chinese ODM Wingtech Technology at CNY2.46 billion (US$381 million). Ofilm suffered operating losses in 2020 and 2021.
