HOLOEYE Photonics AG

HOLOEYE Photonics AG is a German photonics company based in the Berlin-Adlershof technology district. It describes itself as a leading provider for the design, development and commercialization of industrial microdisplay applications, adaptive micro-optics, spatial light modulators (SLMs) and diffractive components. Its product portfolio spans phase-only and amplitude LCOS spatial light modulators, LCOS microdisplays for monochrome and color projection, standard and customized diffractive optical elements (DOEs), and custom LCOS components. The company serves both academic and industrial research and development customers, and also offers volume production for industrial integration. HOLOEYE was founded in 1999 and introduced its first commercial SLM, the LC 2002, in 2000. It launched the high-end HD-resolution PLUTO SLM in 2006, achieved ISO 9001 certification in 2007, and completed its first DOE development for a high-volume consumer application in 2008. In 2016 it launched the GAEA, its first 4K-resolution SLM, and in 2023 it introduced the analog phase-only SLM ERIS. The company continues to release software and hardware updates, including the LETO-720 fast SLM and successive versions of its SLM Display SDK, Pattern Generator and Slideshow Player software. HOLOEYE positions itself as a specialist rather than a mass-market supplier: it emphasizes highly specialized, flexible and diversified standard solutions for academic and industrial R&D, combined with a high level of component customization, custom development and volume production. Its solutions are used in applications such as laser beam splitting, beam shaping and structured light generation, with typical application areas including laser projection, LiDAR, 3D cameras, 3D sensing and facial recognition. The company is a medium-sized, continuously growing firm with flat hierarchies, and it recruits specialists in micro-optics, diffractive optics, optical design and software development.

HOLOEYE Photonics AG was founded in 1999 and is based in the Berlin-Adlershof technology and industrial district of Berlin, Germany. The company was established to commercialize spatial light modulator technology and related micro-optical components, and it introduced its first commercial SLM, the LC 2002, in 2000. Through the 2000s HOLOEYE broadened its product line and its customer base. In 2006 it launched the PLUTO, a high-end HD-resolution spatial light modulator that became one of its best-known product families. In 2007 the company achieved ISO 9001 certification for its management systems, signaling a focus on quality processes for both research and industrial customers. In 2008 it completed its first diffractive optical element development for a high-volume consumer application, marking a step from laboratory and R&D supply toward volume-oriented component business. The following decade saw continued product development in higher resolution and more specialized modulation. In 2016 HOLOEYE launched the GAEA, its first 4K-resolution spatial light modulator. In 2023 it introduced the ERIS, an analog phase-only SLM, extending its portfolio of phase-modulation devices. Alongside hardware, HOLOEYE has maintained an active software ecosystem for its SLMs, including the SLM Display SDK, the SLM Pattern Generator and the SLM Slideshow Player. The company has continued to release regular updates to these tools, and in 2024 it released version 4.0 of the SLM Display SDK, which enables the use of multiple SLM devices connected simultaneously. In 2025 it added 12 new off-the-shelf standard glass diffractive optical elements to its catalog. In 2026 it introduced the LETO-720 fast SLM with a native 240 Hz mode and continued to update its software suite. HOLOEYE describes itself as a continuously growing medium-sized company serving customers worldwide in the photonics market. It operates from Berlin-Adlershof and emphasizes small teams, flat hierarchies and open communication. Its solutions are used in applications such as laser beam splitting, beam shaping and structured light generation, with typical application areas including laser projection, LiDAR, 3D cameras, 3D sensing and facial recognition. The company serves both academic and industrial R&D customers and offers customization and volume production for industrial integration.

• 2026

  New fast SLM LETO-720 with native 240 Hz mode introduced.

• 2025

  12 new standard glass diffractive optical elements added to the catalog.

• 2024

  Major update of the SLM Display SDK (version 4.0), enabling multiple SLM devices connected simultaneously.

• 2023

  Launch of the analog phase-only SLM ERIS.

• 2016

  Launch of the first 4K resolution SLM, GAEA.

• 2008

  First DOE development for a high-volume consumer application.

• 2007

  ISO 9001 management systems certification.

• 2006

  Launch of the high-end HD resolution SLM PLUTO.

• 2000

  Introduction of the first commercial SLM, the LC 2002.

• 1999

  Foundation of HOLOEYE Photonics.

Specialist supplier of spatial light modulators, LCOS microdisplays and diffractive optics for academic and industrial R&D, combining standard products with a high degree of customization and volume production for industrial integration.

• LC 2002

  First commercial spatial light modulator introduced by HOLOEYE in 2000.

• PLUTO

  High-end HD resolution spatial light modulator launched in 2006.

• GAEA

  First 4K resolution spatial light modulator, launched in 2016.

• ERIS

  Analog phase-only spatial light modulator launched in 2023.

• LETO-720

  Fast SLM providing a native 240 Hz mode and 720 resolution, announced in 2026.

• SLM Display SDK

  Software development kit for controlling HOLOEYE SLM devices; version 4.0 enables multiple SLM devices connected simultaneously.

• SLM Pattern Generator

  Software for generating patterns for HOLOEYE SLMs.

• SLM Slideshow Player

  Software for playing slideshows on HOLOEYE SLMs.

• Standard Diffractive Optical Elements

  Off-the-shelf glass diffractive optical elements; 12 new standard DOEs were added in 2025.

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