ST to develop picoprojector for smartphones with bTendo

Using two micromachined mirrors to create world's smallest projection engine

By Nick Flaherty

STMicroelectronics is working with bTendo of Israel to jointly develop the world’s smallest Pico Projector for smart phones and other portable consumer-electronics devices. The solution is based on bTendo’s Scanning Laser Projection engine technology and ST’s MEMS (Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems) expertise, video processing know-how and semiconductor process technology.

Less than 2.5cm³ in volume and below 6mm high, the jointly developed embedded projector solution will offer a focus free, vivid colour, sharp and crisp image, superior to current pico projection solutions, says ST. With two MEMS-based micro-mirror-actuation devices within the system’s optical engine and an advanced video-processing chip, the engine is optimized for smart phones, offering low power consumption and built-in support for MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) to ensure swift and easy integration.

“People want to share their media with others and enjoy the option of expanding their display even for their own personal viewing,” said Benedetto Vigna, Group Vice President and General Manager, MEMS, Sensor and High-Performance Analog Division at ST. “ST selected bTendo’s technology due to its small size, low power and focus-free features, which are all critical for embedded projection modules. ST has a long history in the development of innovative technologies and this joint cooperation will further extend our MEMS sensor expertise, while also complementing and reinforcing our leadership in MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers for advanced user interfaces."

“We are very excited to collaborate with STMicroelectronics, the world leader in MEMS technologies for mobile handsets, to bring to the market our cutting-edge technology for embedded Pico Projectors,” said Dana Gross, CEO of bTendo Ltd. “ST’s best-in-class semiconductor process technology and design capabilities will enable a cost-effective, low-power solution perfect for personal consumer devices.”

Related articles

• STMicroelectronics Extends Its Lead in Motion-Sensing Chips for Smart Consumer Devices (prnewswire.com)
• STMicroelectronics and Bluechiip to Cooperate in Manufacturing of Unique MEMS-Based Tracking Tags (prnewswire.com)
• PP003 pico-projector slips under the $100 barrier (slashgear.com)
• Pico Projector in iPhone 5? Don't Count On It (pcworld.com)
• Samsung HP-S03 Picoprojector Review: A Brownie Full of Lights [Pico Projector] (gizmodo.com)
• Nioncom Unveils MemoryKick Vision Pico Projector With Google Android (inquisitr.com)

MicroVision shows mini tablet with embedded pico projector

Prototype combines attributes of smartphones and tablets with embedded laser projector

By Nick Flaherty www.flaherty.co.uk

Pico projector maker MicroVision has developed a prototype 3.5in mini-tablet to demonstrate what is possible in the next generation of mobile devices that offer large viewing experiences in an ultra-compact size. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) can use the PicoP Development Kit for all the tools necessary to design fully functional devices incorporating the PicoP display engine.
Developed using the PicoP Development Kit, the MicroVision design offers the functionality of a tablet PC and a big-screen viewing experience from the embedded pico projector in a pocket-sized package—just a little thicker than today’s smartphones. The embedded pico projector displays vivid, widescreen images as large as 100 diagonal inches depending on lighting conditions, offering dramatically enhanced mobile gaming, social networking and content sharing experiences. While the architecture can support a variety of mobile operating systems, the current functional design uses the Android 2.2 operating system. The device includes a 3.5-inch capacitive touch screen, 720p camcorder module, motion sensor, HDMI in and out and display support for web content, user generated content and apps on popular mobile operating systems.
"More functionality in a smaller package has always been the trend in consumer electronics until tablets came along,” said Alexander Tokman, president and CEO of MicroVision. “This mobile multimedia device is just one example of how we plan to help the industry achieve big-screen viewing experiences while still offering pocket-size portability.”
MicroVision’s laser-scanning technology is ideally suited for embedded mobile applications as its images are always in focus even under constant motion and colors are created instantaneously, avoiding color breakup other technologies experience when the projector or the viewer’s head moves. With a highly modular and flexible architecture, the PicoP display engine offers additional unique benefits including high optical efficiency, small form factor and low power requirements. It does not require projection lenses, focus wheels or complex optics and it dissipates less heat, yielding an extremely small form factor.


The mini-tablet prototype offers a technical foundation for OEM and ODM partners to introduce exciting new mobility use-cases to businesses and consumers.

Related articles

• Microvision prototype Android 'mini tablet' with built-in projector hands-on (engadget.com) 
• MicroVision's second-generation SHOWWX+ laser pico projector (gizmag.com) 
• MicroVision shares soar after chatter that pico projectors could enhance Apple's iPhone 5 (techflash.com) 
• PIoneer and MicroVision preview laser-based HUD tech (electronista.com) 

Tiny pico projector for cell phones and cameras

6mm High Unit for Embedding into Handheld Devices by the End of the Year
Chinese conglomerate Foryou Multimedia Electronics has been working with Syndiant in Dallas and with Hong Kong’s ASTRI R&D Labs to develop an LED pico projector that is less than 4cc in volume and 6 mm in height and suitable for embedding into cell phones and digital still cameras. While it will be approriate for digital cameras, it is still too large for smartphones - as the trend with the recent 4G iPhone to a thinner unit shows.

Using Syndiant’s SYL2030 panel, which offers WVGA resolution (854x480 pixel) in a tiny (6 mm) package, ForYou and ASTRI designed an embeddable LED pico projector for handheld consumer devices.
“We are pleased to expand our relationship with ForYou and ASTRI,” said Mark Harward, CEO of Syndiant. “The SYL2030 member of our VueG8 family of pico projector panels really provides a viewing gateway that enables a large screen experience from hand-held devices such as cell phones and digital still cameras. With true WVGA resolution, this panel provides excellent image quality with vivid saturated colors, while delivering the low cost and power efficiency to be an ideal solution for these very high volume embedded applications.”
“Our initial product announcement with Syndiant’s 1024x600 pixel SYL2061 at CES was very well received, and we are pleased to announce our second endeavor with both Syndiant and ASTRI,” said Jefeng Liu, marketing manager at Foryou. “We expect our product to ship before the end of 2010.”
“ASTRI is proud to play an important role in delivering innovative products to the fast growing pico projector market,” said Kenny Chan, business development manager at ASTRI. “We are excited to see the commercialization of our joint efforts and to achieve significant milestones on additional pico projector development projects that we are hard at work on.”
Foryou is a venture of the Huizho Foryou Group, one of the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of DVD Loaders and DVD pick-ups. They also design and manufacture automobile electronics, consumer electronics, LED lighting products, plastic molding, and Optical-Electronic components. Syndiant manufactures the world’s smallest and highest resolution light modulating chips used in ultra-portable projectors small enough to embed in a cell phone. Syndiant’s patented technologies will provide a large screen experience in handheld electronics, such as smartphones, notebook computers, portable media players, video game consoles and cameras

Related articles by Zemanta

• Syndiant and SSTDC Demonstrate Smallest SVGA Laser Pico Projector Engine (eon.businesswire.com)
• Microvision Completes Design of New PicoP Laser Display Engine for Mobile Embedded Applications (eon.businesswire.com)
• Hi Lux Pico Projector phone for $174? OK, I'll bite (mobilecrunch.com)
• Another pico projector, this one from Sapphire (crunchgear.com)
• DigiLife iOne Android tablet packs pico-projector (android-tablet.org)
• Pico projectors bring giant-screen gaming to iPhone (dvice.com)
• Next Generation Mini Projectors Debuted by FAVI Entertainment (eon.businesswire.com)

Samsung and TI demo first WVGA beam projector mobile phone

Samsung mobile with high-res capability powered by TI's DLP Pico chipset

Samsung Electronics has demonstrated a mobile phone with embedded projector at CES this year. The Samsung W9600 Projector Phone uses Texas Instruments' DLP Pico WVGA chipset to project native DVD images. The pico projection feature removes the limitations of the mobile phone screen by providing "big picture" viewing experiences for sharing pictures, watching videos, playing games, viewing e-mail attachments, and even giving presentations. Any content can instantly be projected whether it is stored on or streamed to the phone. Featuring a lightweight and compact design, the Samsung Projector Phone can display images in excess of 60 inches depending on ambient light conditions.

"Building upon the excitement and success of our W7900 projection phone in Korea last year, this new phone transforms the mobile phone experience, giving users the capability to share large, stunning native DVD images from the palm of their hands," said David Noh, vice president at Samsung Electronics. "We continue to transform the limitations of mobile viewing to provide complete mobile office and entertainment solutions that enhance people's lives."

"We are amazed that this kind of image in terms of size, brightness, and resolution is possible from a mobile phone -- and for Samsung to achieve this without any compromise in the form factor of a contemporary cell phone is truly impressive," said Frank Moizio, DLP Emerging Markets business manager. "This phone's 'big picture' capability not only enhances the individual use experience, but also gives the user the capability to share experiences in a compelling way -- opening the opportunity for numerous entertainment and business applications."


DLP Pico projection features:
-- Web surfing
-- Viewing digital photos (.jpg format)
-- Viewing video content in various formats including DivX
-- Giving PowerPoint slide presentations
-- Flashlight capabilities
-- Resolution: DLP Pico WVGA resolution with over 400,000 pixels
-- Contrast ratio: >2000:1
-- Image size: Greater than 50 inches depending on light conditions


Mobile phone features:
-- 5.0-megapixel camera
-- High-resolution color AMOLED touch screen
-- Intuitive flick navigation to view presentations and photo slide shows
-- Sleek and lightweight design

Other devices at CES using the DLP Pico chipset:

MOBILE PHONES
-- LG eXpo(TM)/AT&T Pico projector snap-on accessory: (HVGA); $179;
Available on AT&T's Web site
-- NTT DOCOMO Pico projector phone dock F-04B: (WVGA); Availability to be
announced
-- Samsung Embedded Pico Projector: (WVGA); Availability to be announced


CAMERAS
-- Asia Optical Prototype: Demonstration of embedded camera prototype at
CES


PICO PROJECTORS
-- Optoma PK100: (HVGA); $199; Available at Amazon.com
-- Optoma PK101: (HVGA); $229; Available at Amazon.com and Apple Stores
-- WowWee Cinemin Swivel: (HVGA); $299; Available at Amazon.com,
Brookstone


PICO PROJECTION MEDIA PLAYERS
-- Foryou Media: (WVGA); Availability in China to be announced
-- JCO-Hite: (HVGA); Availability in China to be announced
-- Optoma PK102: (HVGA); $249; Available at Amazon.com and Apple Stores
-- Optoma PK201: (WVGA); Availability to be announced
-- Optoma PK301: (WVGA); Availability to be announced
-- Samsung SP-H03: (WVGA); Availability to be announced


GAMING/MUTLIMEDIA
-- Brightboxe: (WVGA); $199; Available at select Target stores


NOTEBOOK COMPANION
-- HP Notebook Projection Companion: (SVGA/480p); Availability to be
announced


MULTIMEDIA POCKET PROJECTORS
-- LG HS200G: (SVGA); $499; Available at online retailers
-- LG HX300G: (XGA); Availability to be announced
-- Samsung SP-P410M: (SVGA); Available at online retailers

Light Blue Optics launches interactive projector with touchscreen

 

 

 

 

Portable interactive projector turns any flat surface into a touch screen

Cambridge startup Light Blue Optics (LBO) has launched its first product, the Light Touch  interactive projector that turns any flat surface into a 10″ touch screen. Light Touch is a reference product and will be made available to Light Blue Optics’ OEM customers and other strategic partners. It uses LBO’s proprietary holographic laser projection technology (HLP), creating bright, high-quality WVGA resolution video images that are always in focus. HLP enables extremely wide throw angles, resulting in large images being created at close proximity to the projector’s aperture. It can also correct for distortion and optical aberrations in software, enabling novel table-top projection. A unique optical architecture delivers a Class 1 laser safety classification making HLP and devices that incorporate it eye safe.
It uses an infra-red touch sensing system that transforms the projected image into a virtual 10″ touch screen. The user can control the projector and interact with multimedia content and applications simply by touching the projected image. It runs Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, leveraging a large existing developer community and enabling the rapid development of innovative applications. WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity enable device to device communication and applications that connect directly to the internet such as social networking, multimedia sharing and electronic point of sale. Light Touch is equipped with 2GB of onboard Flash memory and has a Micro SD card slot that supports up to 32GB. Light Touch can be wall powered or battery operated, with a run-time of 2 hours before recharging is required.

Light Blue Optics’ CEO, Chris Harris said “At LBO, we believe that today’s consumer is no longer a passive viewer of multimedia content. People expect to engage, interact and share content and our first product enables them to do that in new and exciting ways. The opportunities for Light Touch extend beyond consumer electronics into retail spaces, the workplace and the home, profoundly changing the way people interact with multimedia content and the built environment. By enabling such diverse and compelling use cases, LBO aims to become the world’s leading supplier of miniature projection systems.”

Related articles by Zemanta

• Pico Projector From Light Blue Optics Throws Up a 10-inch Touchscreen Laser Projection [Projector] (gizmodo.com)
• CES2010: Light Blue Optics' laser projector enables touch interaction (sfgate.com)
• Light Touch: Magic screen or work in progress? (dvice.com)

Portable laser projector company raises $15m

Cambridge mini-projector company Light Blue Optics has raised $15m to expand its range of laser-based pico projection systems. The money will enable LBO to accelerate its product development roadmap across multiple markets including automotive, industrial and consumer electronics. The Company’s first product – a projection engine suitable for integration into an accessory pico projector to sit in or alongside a smartphone – is scheduled for release to OEM customers in Q4 09.
A unique aspect of the projection system is it can be touch-enabled, meaning any flat surface such as a table can be instantly transformed into a touch-sensitive display, eliminating the need for a touch screen and allowing users to interact with multi-media content.

Light Blue Optics’ CEO, Dr. Chris Harris said “This $15 million financing round will enable LBO to accelerate its product development roadmap and address a wider range of applications. It’s a very exciting opportunity, not least in the consumer electronics space where the market for pico projectors has been forecast to exceed US$1 billion within 5 years. We now have the world-beating technology, experienced team and strong investor syndicate in place to realise that opportunity and become the world’s leading supplier of miniature projection systems.”

LBO showed its first product in June, a projection engine suitable for integration into an accessory pico projector. This is scheduled for release to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Q4 09.
The engine creates a bright, high-quality video and still WVGA – QVGA images, producing 10 lumens or more depending on the content shown. As the technology is laser-based, images remain in focus at all distances from the projector and the need for a focus wheel is eliminated. A unique optical architecture enables the systems to be safe under all conditions of normal use, meeting the most stringent Class 1 laser safety classification and opening up a range of high-volume applications in markets such as consumer electronics.
LBO’s proprietary technology has an ultra-wide throw angle and the ability to correct for optical aberrations using software. These features enable LBO’s miniature projection systems to switch between conventional front projection onto a wall and a novel table-down projection mode where the device is placed on a table and the content is projected down onto the surface in front of it. The user is then able to view and share content in a comfortable way, without needing to hold the projector steady in their hand for extended periods of time.
An additional product configuration allows the user to control the projector and interact with multimedia content simply by touching the projected image. Any flat surface such as a table can be instantly transformed into a touch-sensitive display, eliminating the need for a touch screen and opening up new opportunities in device, application and user-interface design.