Tunoptix, Inc. – Unlocking revolutionary applications in machine vision, robotics, and industrial systems

The digital revolution introduced semiconductor detectors and storage into the optical arena – think cameras on laptops and cell phones, but these innovations are coupled to core optical elements and system designs that have remained relatively unchanged.

The next technological revolution, enabled by ubiquitous computing power and artificial intelligence, is changing how we interact with machines and each other. Advanced imaging systems must prioritize ‘digital,’ machine-based information over human viewing.

On the front lines of this technological revolution is Dr. Arka Majumdar, co-founder of Tunoptix, an Longview Innovation portfolio company. Arka and the team at Tunoptix are commercializing proprietary technology that outperforms traditional optical systems by utilizing meta-optics and advanced reconstruction software. Their pioneering process is set to revolutionize a $10+ billion market by enabling imaging systems with advanced functionality in compact form factors while reducing cost and minimizing complexity.

From laboratory to start-up

Tunoptix began its life in the labs at the University of Washington, where Arka worked on a method to create optical elements in nanometer length scales. He hadn’t considered creating a start-up to advance this work at the time. However, working with Longview, the commercial potential of the science was identified, and the idea of starting a company was put forward to Arka and co-founder Dr. Karl Bohringer. The idea took flight once Longview provided the seed funding, and soon after, Tunoptix was born.

Tunoptix started to gain momentum after two of Arka’s graduate students, Dr. Shane Colburn and Dr. Alan Zhan, joined the team. “Shane and Alan were deeply involved in the research work and development of the technology and are now critical members of the team as directors of system design and optical design,” Arka said. “We started getting things done when they joined, focusing on how to develop the technology and build the company with the support of Longview.”

Soon after, Arka received a call from the development agency of the United States Department of Defense (DARPA). “They were very interested in making large aperture, very thin optics for full color imaging, which was exactly what we were doing. This led to two rounds of funding from DARPA and great encouragement that there would be commercial interest in our technology.” Tunoptix has also received funding from NASA to develop the technology for compact hyperspectral imagers used in space exploration.

Billion-dollar problem

In practical terms, Tunoptix is taking the miniaturization of optics (cameras) to the next level. Arka explains, “up until now, miniaturization of cameras in things like cell phones, laptops, and tablets has been due to semiconductor technology and sensors, but where we are today is as optimized as it gets.

“Camera technology has come a long way since the early 2000s, and now the quality is quite good. But if you look at cell phone cameras, there is a bump where the camera lens is and quite a bit of thickness on laptops. This is because the optics are still fairly large. One of the cell phone companies told us that the bump is a billion-dollar problem.

“We realized that to reduce the size further, you must, in a sense, reinvent the optics (lens) using refraction to create a sub-wavelength nanoscale structure. Thanks to semiconductor manufacturing, we’re now able to achieve this. However, we also realized that as the optics become smaller, distortion significantly reduces the image quality. That’s where reconstructive computational processing comes in. To solve the billion-dollar problem and a range of others, we developed a framework that combines advanced optics with proprietary reconstructive software. That’s our secret sauce.

Market Potential

Right now, Tunoptix uses its approach to improve imaging, address size constraints, and cost considerations in laptops and cell phones. “We have signed a contract with one of the leading laptop manufacturers to help them make their screens even thinner. This can’t be done without our technology.” The company is also applying its technology to medical applications, such as endoscopy. Imagine a high-end camera in nanoscale that you can put inside an artery.

The company’s technology can also be used for many other applications. “The grant we received from NASA focuses on hyperspectral sensing for finding objects, identifying materials, or detection. Our work for DARPA is about satellite imaging and very large apertures. Our technology can substantially reduce energy, latency, and weight while delivering much better performance. For satellites and many other industrial applications, these things are critically important.

Scale and commercialization

“Manufacturing is challenging, and finding the right partner is paramount. We are working with two partners now who are helping us transition from manufacturing in the lab to larger-scale production and several camera vendors to work on the software back end, which is where we add value.

“We are also building the team, adding balance to our research and technology development capabilities with people who have experience in the development cycle. Dr. John Fijol at Longview Innovation is instrumental in helping us scale because he has a commercial background and understands science. There are a lot of big players in the market for our technology who usually want some sort of exclusivity, but John has done an excellent job of making sure we have strong commercial agreements, high growth opportunities and that our voice is heard.

“We are currently working on our Series A funding round, which will give us the ability to move more quickly and bring our technology to market. We are highly encouraged by the feedback we receive from investors and the commercial interest from consumer and industrial players.”