How does the vacuum coating technology of Buhler Leybold Optics help the 3D vision industry?

Micro-interview: Qi Jiangfan, Vice President of Buhler Leybold Optics China

Interview Background: Buhler Leybold Optical Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd., formerly a wholly foreign-owned subsidiary of Leybold Optics Co., Ltd. in Beijing, relies on this world-renowned high vacuum coating equipment brand with more than 160 years of history. Leybold Optics has established an office in China since the late 1970s and officially established a equipment assembly and service company in Beijing in 2006. It has been with Chinese customers for more than 30 years. In 2012, Leybold Optics was officially acquired by the Swiss Buhler Group and is currently one of the three largest manufacturing bases for Buhler's high vacuum coating equipment. The business of Bühler Leybold Optical covers two main business areas: optical coating equipment and large-area coating equipment. The company's high-quality vacuum coating equipment has contributed to the development of precision optics, eyeglass optics, automotive lamps, food packaging, film capacitors, displays, and automotive and architectural glass industries in China. The infrared source of the 3D camera puts new demands on the filter, which has created a very large industry. As a key player in the narrowband filter industry, equipment supplier, what is the insight and planning of Buhler Leybold Optics? Mames Consulting interviewed Ms. Qi Jiangfan, Vice President of China, Breeze Optical Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Memes Consulting: In 2012, Leybold Optics was acquired by the Swiss Buhler Group. Could you tell us about the development of Buhler Leybold Optics and the core team? Ms. Qi Jiangfan: Laibao Optics was founded in the 1950s. Mr. Laibao and Mr. Heraeus from Germany were the founding pioneers of the company. In 1911, Leybold innovated the world's first molecular pump and diffusion pump; in 1990, it successfully developed the advanced plasma source APS, which has also maintained its leading position in the industry. On October 1, 1993, the Degussa Group transferred all of its shares in Leybold to the Oerlikon Group in Zurich, Switzerland. Oerlikon Group merged its subsidiary company and Leybold to become the world's largest vacuum and thin film technology company. With the rise of the Asian market, the Leybold Optics China production base was established in Beijing, China in 2006. In 2012, LeBron Optics, which performed well, was acquired by the Swiss Buhler Group. In 2015, the brand of Leybold Optics was changed to Buhler. After 11 years of steady development, Buhler Leybold Optical Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd. became the R&D, production, sales and after-sales center of Leybold Optics Asia Pacific in 2017.

Development of Buhler Leybold Optical Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Bulle Laibao Optics is a global high-tech company with three manufacturing bases in Germany, China and the United States and a number of vacuum technologies, film preparation and application development. Senior expert.

Buhler Leybold Optical Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Maems Consulting: Bulle Leybold Optics as a leader in coating equipment, which industries and products are mainly served? Ms. Qi Jiangfan: The business of Buhler Leybold Optical covers two major business areas, optical and large-area coating. It is the development of China's precision optics, optics, automotive lamps, food packaging, film capacitors, displays and architectural glass. Made a contribution. The equipment application of Buhler Leybold Optical covers a wide range of film applications including high-end lenses, smart terminal lenses, lasers, aerospace optical systems, building energy-saving glass, automotive headlamps, food flexible packaging and capacitors. .

Buhler Leybold Optics is the leader in coating equipment. Mames Consulting: What are the core competencies of Buhler Leybold optical coating equipment? It is said that Buhler Leybold Optics can customize equipment according to customer needs. How can your company ensure that the price is reasonable while meeting customer needs? Ms. Qi Jiangfan: As explained by our company's slogan: one step ahead, maintaining technology leadership is one of the company's core competitiveness; a stable and professional team is the driving force for continuous innovation and progress. Regarding equipment customization, manufacturers are required to have rich experience and professional technology, which is precisely the advantage of Buhler Leybold optics; the price is always relative, creating value for customers is our goal, very lucky, at this point On, we also got the approval of our customers. Mames Consulting: Tell us about your understanding of 3D cameras? Which 3D sensing technologies will be used for the front and rear cameras of the smartphone? At the same time, please also talk about the application field of 3D camera. Ms. Qi Jiangfan: Smartphones have changed our lives. The camera used to capture image information can be said to be the eyes of mobile phones. Imagine that the camera of a smartphone is gradually approaching the human eye. 3D sensing is a necessary step, and I More optimistic about future applications and experiences based on 3D sensing technology. As we all know, due to the special requirements of mobile phone platforms, the front or rear camera is basically adopting structured light or time-of-flight (ToF) technology. The requirements for hardware and software are different and common, which is beneficial to the technical development and production capacity of the supply chain. Layouts such as VSCEL, IR CMOS image sensors, and narrowband filters. Regarding the application of 3D camera, the imagination space is huge. In addition to the face recognition and augmented reality (AR) self-timer that the front camera can bring, the rear 3D camera can be more integrated with the AR, which brings different scenes and needs. New Experience. All in all, 3D sensing is just a starting point. Memms Consulting: What do you think is the importance of narrowband filters for 3D cameras? What are the special features of the narrowband filter process? What are the requirements and challenges for optical equipment? Ms. Qi Jiangfan: The narrow-band filter is one of the key points for the transmitting and receiving ends of the 3D camera, and plays a key role in the imaging of the infrared camera. Low angle offset technology is the main indicator and requirement of this product, and it is also difficult. For the equipment that manufactures this filter, it must first have high precision and stability, secondly solve the efficiency and productivity problems, and have the possibility to upgrade with the change of filter specifications. Currently, our equipment has a control accuracy of no more than one in ten thousand. I believe that these are the concerns of filter manufacturers. The Helios 800 from Bühler Leybold Optics is a high-precision device that meets the above requirements and is already leading the way in the manufacture of this filter.

Helios 800 for color filter preparation : Please tell us about the main role of Bühler Leybold Optics in the 3D vision industry? What are the equipment series offered by Bühler Leybold Optics? Please talk in detail. Thank you! Ms. Qi Jiangfan: Buhler Leybold Optics is a professional equipment supplier for thin film products, providing solutions for key filter production in 3D camera technology. In the production of this filter, the company's solution is the Helios 800 device. In terms of technical indicators, the wavelength shift of 0 to 30 degrees is less than 10 nm, meeting the requirements of current mainstream customers. Also welcome colleagues in the industry and we continue to explore the relevant technical details. Mames Consulting: The iPhone X was officially released, and the rumors of the 3D camera were confirmed. As a result, the 3D vision industry has stood on the cusp of a new wave of visual revolution. How will Buhler Leybold Optics develop product layout and market planning? Ms. Qi Jiangfan: I am very pleased that our technology and solutions can stand in the 3D visual industry. This is actually a process of accumulation. At the same time, I also believe that with the starting point of technology provided by 3D vision, there will be more The application is generated, thus placing new demands on the technology. So what we have to do is very simple, to keep up with the pace of the market, continue to innovate, and provide the most competitive solutions. Memes Consulting: Finally, please talk about the technology and market trends of thin film filters? Ms. Qi Jiangfan: The 3D filter embodies the characteristics of vacuum film technology. It is a comprehensive technology that combines various disciplines such as physics, materials, chemistry and optoelectronics. As long as there is a drive for application requirements, any breakthrough can create new manufacturing processes and solutions that will bring market success. In the history of Buhler Leybold optics, there are a large number of examples in the fields of automotive, energy, communications and consumer electronics to confirm the value of this technology. If you must say the future trend, in the field of consumer electronics, especially smart phones, then it must be optoelectronic integration and miniaturization. This is also our strength and direction. As far as filters are concerned, the market size of nearly $3 billion has been reached in the next one to two years, and the subsequent development rate is even more unpredictable.