Flat-panel laser displays through large-scale photonic integrated circuits

Abstract

Laser-based displays are highly sought after for their superior brightness and colour performance1, especially in advanced applications such as augmented reality (AR)2. However, their broader use has been hindered by bulky projector designs and complex optical module assemblies3. Here we introduce a laser display architecture enabled by large-scale visible photonic integrated circuits (PICs)4, 5, 6–7 to address these challenges. Unlike previous projector-style laser displays, this architecture features an ultra-thin, flat-panel form factor, replacing bulky free-space illumination modules with a single, high-performance photonic chip. Centimetre-scale PIC devices, which integrate thousands of distinct optical components on-chip, are carefully tailored to achieve high display uniformity, contrast and efficiency. We demonstrate a 2-mm-thick flat-panel laser display combining the PIC with a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) panel8,9, achieving 211% of the colour gamut and more than 80% volume reduction compared with traditional LCoS displays. We further showcase its application in a see-through AR system. Our work represents an advancement in the integration of nanophotonics with display technologies, enabling a range of new display concepts, from high-performance immersive displays to slim-panel 3D holography.