Abstract
Light engine devices combining micro-mirror architectures and light sources
are finding their way into numerous applications with various degrees of
success and performance. Once promising, shipments of rear-projection TV
(RPTV) devices are now flat and will probably be declining until a successful
combination of micromirrors with solid state light sources (using LED or LD)
are is achieved. Video projector display devices, based on Texas Instruments
(TI) DLP are still dominant, but other segments are now showing growth
promises with a set of players ready to challenge TI. Pico-projectors devices
are certainly the most promising new application in volume whether in
standalone configurations or integrated in mobile phones. Barcode readers,
head-up displays and head mounted displays are next.
What will be the best choice of light sources for their design? Two
technical solutions are competing: LED (light emitting diodes) and LD (laser
diodes). The challenge is to achieve a successful integration and ask a few
question: at what price? Thermal management? Brightness levels? Speckle effect
for lasers?
Competition is getting ready! In the projector market, TI Challengers have never been so close!
Microvision has presented a standalone single mirror based pico-projector at
the CES 2008 show for a market introduction in 2009. 3M is another challenger
with the same time to market. Miradia is preparing a demonstrator system with
plans for market introduction in two years. Once quiet, fabless companies are
now communicating. TI is not standing still: new Wafer Level packaging (as
revealed by a Chipworks report) allowes for significant cost reduction.....
All players are racing for consumer applications, making partnerships between
system integrators, MEMS and LEDs/LDs manufacturers necessary.
This new report from Yole Developpement will present market figures for the
different market segments, analyzing the market drivers and challenges across
the value chain with a focus on solid state light sources technologies and
prospects.
| 
View Cart
