Report: Approaches and Prospects for Thin, Rear Projection TVs TOC

1. Table of Contents

2. Executive Summary

3. Drivers for Thin Rear Projection TV

4. Thin Rear Projection Approaches

4.1. Introduction
4.2. Wide Field of View Projection Optics
- 4.2.1. All reflective optics
- 4.2.2. Refractive - reflective optics
- 4.2.3. All refractive optics
- 4.2.4. Light path aiming
- 4.2.5. Folding the light path
- 4.2.6. Projection lens cost
4.3. Approaches that Incorporate Novel Screen Components
- 4.3.1. SCRAMscreen
- 4.3.2. Hybrid Fresnel lens
- 4.3.3. Light Control Films
4.4. Electronic Correction of Distortion and Color Problems
4.5. Alternative Light Sources
- 4.5.1. LED light sources
- 4.5.2. Laser light sources
4.6. Orientation and Position of the Light Engine within the Enclosure
4.7. Conclusions Relating to Thin RPTV Technology

5. Wedge Projection Method

6. Price and Status of Commercialization

6.1. In Focus - RCA/Thomson
- 6.1.1. InFocus
- 6.1.2. RCA/Thomson
- 6.1.3. TLC
6.2. Mitsubishi
6.3. JVC
6.4. Samsung
6.5. Sony
6.6. General Product Conclusions

7. Analysis of Prospects

7.1. Introduction
7.2. The current large screen HDTV market
7.3. Thin RPTV pricing differential
7.4. Slim/Thin RPTV Manufacturing Cost Differential
7.5. Penetration Forecast and Conclusions

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Screen size versus enclosure depth
Figure 2: A projection optics concept based on two curved mirrors
Figure 3: A projection optics design based on four mirrors
Figure 4: An optical system that includes a refractive lens and aspheric mirror
Figure 5: A projection lens based on all refractive elements and no fold
Figure 6: A projection lens based on all refractive elements that has a fold prism
Figure 7: An all-refractive lens with a fold mirror
Figure 8: The use of an offset lens
Figure 9: An offset lens in an optical system
Figure 10: The video projector is angled upwards
Figure 11: An optical system with a folded lens and a single flat mirror
Figure 12: An optical system with an offset lens and a single curved mirror
Figure 13: An optical system based on two flat mirrors
Figure 14: An optical system based on two flat mirrors and an obliquely oriented light engine
Figure 15: Two versions of an optical system based on one flat mirror plus one curved mirror and an offset lens
Figure 16: An optical system based on two flat mirrors, one curved mirror and an obliquely oriented light engine
Figure 17: An optical system based on two aspheric mirrors and one flat mirror
Figure 18: An optical system based on three flat mirrors and an extra light path fold at the special screen
Figure 19: An optical system based on three aspheric mirrors and one flat mirror
Figure 20: The SCRAMscreen
Figure 21: The SCRAMscreen in a simple optical system
Figure 22: Cross sectional view of a hybrid Fresnel lens
Figure 23: Diffusing light control film
Figure 24: Off-axis GRIN Material
Figure 25: Various types of geometrical distortion
Figure 26: Lateral chromatic aberration
Figure 27: Brightness non-uniformity
Figure 28: Color non-uniformity
Figure 29: The LED PhlatLight made by Luminus Devices
Figure 30: A LED based light engine made by Sypro Optics
Figure 31: Novalux Lasers as Implemented by Oerlikon
Figure 32: A prototype 52" Mitsubishi RPTV having a Novalux laser light source
Figure 33: Light engine orientations within the enclosure
Figure 34: An optical system in which the light engine projects downwards
Figure 35: In a wedge shaped waveguide a ray' s direction changes each time it reflects off the side
Figure 36: The display comprises a video projector, slab waveguide and wedge shaped waveguide
Figure 37: A prototype wedge, thin rear projection display
Figure 38: Two stylings of the In Focus thin RPTV
Figure 39: The Thin RCA/Thomson RPTV
Figure 40: Concept illustration of the proposed TCL thin RPTV
Figure 41: The Mitsubishi Mega Wall thin RPTV
Figure 42: JVCs' thin RPTV
Figure 43: Samsungs' thin RPTV
Figure 44: Sony' s' thin prototype RPTV
Figure 45: Recently announced Sony thin RPTV
Figure 46: Current technology share by screen size
Figure 47: Sales of Normal and Large screen TVs by geographic region
Figure 48: Evolution in the sale of HDTVs by screen size
Figure 49: World wide large screen HDTV unit sales projection by technology
Figure 50: Projected sales of RPTV
Figure 51: The ASP for large screen, flat panel HDTV as a function of time.
Figure 52: The drop in large screen flat panel HDTVs is approaching a limit
Figure 53: The effect of new features on the price of HDTVs
Figure 54: Pricing of various HDTV technologies as a function of screen size
Figure 55: Price trends in RPTV by screen size
Figure 56: Pricing history of Samsung' s model HL-S4676S thin RPTV
Figure 57: Screen diagonal versus D/d ratio for various RPTV products
Figure 58: Price versus screen diagonal for various RPTV products
Figure 59: Projected DLP light engine cost as a function of HDTV thickness
Figure 60: Estimated light engine cost as a function of D/d
Figure 61: Engine Costs Estimated by Zeiss and Insight Media
Figure 62: Proportion of RPTV sales that are thin or slim as a function of time

Table of Tables

Table 1: Screen size versus enclosure depth
Table 2: Specification accomplished by the four-mirror projection system
Table 3: Specification accomplished by the reflective - refractive approach
Table 4: Specification accomplished by the all-refractive lens approach
Table 5: Summary of the specifications of In Focus' thin RPTV
Table 6: Summary of the specifications of Mitsubishi' s Mega Wall thin RPTV
Table 7: Summary of the specifications of JVCs thin RPTVs
Table 8: Summary of the specifications of Samsungs' thin RPTVs
Table 9: Summary of the specifications of Sony' thin prototype RPTV
Table 10: A summary of thin RPTVs
Table 11: Global projections for large screen HDTV sales by technology
Table 12: Normal RPTV with a UHP-type lamp
Table 13: Slim RPTV with a UHP-type lamp
Table 14: Thin RPTV with a UHP-type lamp
Table 15: Normal RPTV with Laser Illumination
Table 16: Slim RPTV with Laser Illumination
Table 17: Thin RPTV with Laser Illumination
Table 18: BOM Summary