Kyocera Corporation has developed a new meta-lens that uses metasurface-based optical control technology to precisely manipulate focal positions depending on the wavelength of light. Applying this technology, Kyocera has created a prototype wearable aerial display (an advancement on its earlier aerial display technology) that achieves both a highly compact optical system and the ability to reproduce images with natural depth perception. The device will make its world premiere at CES 2026, January 6–9, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Key features of Kyocera’s meta-lens

1. Enables smaller, lighter optical devices

A meta-lens is an ultra-thin optical component incorporating a metasurface – a dense arrangement of pillar-shaped meta-atoms smaller than the wavelength of light – to control light propagation. This structure allows Kyocera to manufacture a meta-lens less than 1 mm thick, compared with conventional optical lenses that typically require more than 1 cm of thickness.

Additionally, by precisely designing the meta-atoms, multiple optical functions – such as wavelength control and phase modulation – can be integrated into a single meta-lens. This significantly reduces the number of optical components traditionally required. As a result, both the optical system and the final device can be made dramatically smaller and lighter.

2. Enables image displays with natural depth perception

Using its proprietary meta-atom design technology, Kyocera developed a meta-lens featuring a focal position that shifts depending on the colour (wavelength) of light. Using this lens, images of different colours can be formed at different heights – for example, green images appear farther from the viewer, while red images appear closer. By generating images at varying depths, the system produces three-dimensional aerial visuals with rich depth cues, even within a wearable-sized optical module. This innovation provides natural depth expression without the need for bulky multilayer optical assemblies.

Wearable aerial display prototype

By combining the newly developed meta-lens with Kyocera’s existing aerial imaging technologies – cultivated through its research into high-resolution aerial displays – the company succeeded in creating a compact, lightweight wearable display capable of projecting floating images with realistic depth. This marks a major step toward next-generation visual interfaces that integrate high-quality optics into small, body-worn devices.

Future potential

Currently, Kyocera’s technology enables aerial images whose focal positions vary by colour. In the future, increasing the degree of wavelength control could allow full-colour, high-resolution aerial images, and advances in meta-atom design may enable the projection of smooth 3D visuals into mid-air.

The thin and lightweight nature of meta-lenses makes them highly suitable for applications such as:

• More miniaturized and wearable VR/AR glasses

• Slimmer, space-saving designs for cameras and projectors

• Other optical devices where compactness is essential

Kyocera will continue enhancing its proprietary meta-lens technologies to contribute to the advancement of optical solutions across consumer electronics, industrial equipment, and a wide range of emerging fields.

Featured Technology at CES 2026