A study of the use of lasers as an illumination source for projection systems
Quick Facts
Date of Release: November 2007
Publisher: Insight Media
Authors: Matthew Brennesholtz
Number of Pages: 221
The Need:
Virtually all microdisplay-based projection systems built to date have used an
HID lamp such as the UHP as a light source. While lasers have been proposed as
replacements for the lamp as far back as 1966, cost and performance of these
systems has rarely been satisfactory. Today only extreme high-end, high-price
projectors use laser illumination. There is a need for an evaluation of lasers
in terms of technology, price and performance, and comparison of these
parameters to the existing and forecast markets for projection systems across
a range of potential applications.
Report Objective:
The objective of this report is to supply technologists, managers, product
planners, engineers and researchers with the information needed to evaluate
laser technology in proposed projection displays. The required information
needed to make these decisions include performance data, cost information and
availability, forecasted from 2007-2012. Since the projection market includes
segments that range from very low end to very high end, this report evaluates
lasers from a few milliwatts to 5 watts and more of optical output per color.
Separate Market Segment Analyses of nine different market segments focus on
applying the cost and performance data of laser systems developed in the main
report.
Highlights:
Coverage of the use of lasers in displays, including both benefits and
problems
Optimized wavelengths and colorimetry of lasers to be used for projection
displays
A description of current solid-state laser technology for visible-light
lasers from 1mW to 5W output and beyond (Expanded to include technologies not
discussed in the 2006 Insight Media Laser Report)
A discussion, including examples, of the opto-mechanical design of solid
state lasers
Evaluation of projection systems that can use laser illumination,
including flying spot scanners, 1-D arrays, such as the GLV or GEMS, and
conventional microdisplays when used with laser illumination
A technology forecast for solid-state lasers including changes in the
technology that can be expected through 2012
A forecast of the technology to be used in laser-based projection systems
through 2012
Price forecasts for lasers, as a function of output power, color and
quantity per year. All price forecasts go through 2012. These prices are
forecast based on the prices of existing lasers (Including a comparison to the
prices forecast in the 2006 Insight Media Laser Report)
"Breakthrough" laser price forecasts through 2012. These prices are for
low-cost lasers specifically designed for projection display applications(New
in the 2007 Report)
A discussion of how these breakthrough price forecasts may be achieved by
laser manufacturers (Expanded and updated)
A table containing information on 85 companies involved in lasers or laser
projection
Profiles of 12 laser manufacturers (Compared to 6 in 2006 Report)
Profiles of 11 additional companies involved in laser projection (Compared
to 10 in 2006 report)
Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Use of Lasers as the Illumination Source in Projection Displays
1.2.1. Required Developments to Increase Lasers Penetration in
Projection Displays
1.2.2. Advantages of Lasers Over Other Illumination Sources in
Projection Applications
1.2.3. Laser Price Study
1.2.4. Breaking the Price/Performance Barrier
1.2.5. Projection Display Applications Currently Best Served by Lasers
1.3. Status of Lasers and LEDs in Projection Applications
1.3.1. Pico-Projectors
1.3.2. Head-Up Displays
1.3.3. Pocket Projectors
1.3.4. Ultra-Portable Projectors
1.3.5. Consumer Rear Projection
1.3.6. Consumer Front Projection (Home Theater)
1.3.7. Business Projectors
1.3.8. Visualization and Simulation
1.3.9. Large Venue, Including Electronic Cinema
1.4. Corporate Profiles
2 Solid-state RGB Laser Technology and its Application to Displays
2.1. Introduction to This Study
2.2. Use of Lasers in Displays
2.2.1. Color in Displays
2.2.2. Laser Wavelength Selection for Projection Displays
2.2.3. Laser Color Gamuts with More than Three Lasers
2.2.4. Laser-Based 3D Displays with Infitec Technology
2.2.5. Color Metamerism
2.2.6. Laser Speckle
2.2.7. Warm-Up Time
2.2.8. Lifetime
2.2.9. Laser Safety
2.2.10. Environmental Issues
2.2.11. Variation in Laser Properties
2.2.12. Laser Reliability
2.3. Laser Technology
2.3.1. Laser Materials
2.3.2. Non-Linear Wavelength Conversion
2.3.3. Designs for Solid-State Lasers
2.3.4. Technologies Used for Specific Laser Colors
2.3.5. Laser Packaging Technology
2.4. Laser Display System Technology
2.4.1. Two-axis scanning Systems
2.4.2. Single-Axis Scanning Systems
2.4.3. Microdisplay-based Systems
2.4.4. Display Approaches Used by Various Participants
3 Forecasts for Laser-Based Displays
3.1. Technology Forecast
3.1.1. Laser Technology Forecast
3.1.2. Laser Projection System Technology Forecast
3.2. Laser Price Forecast
3.2.1. Price vs. Volume Model
3.2.2. 2007 Laser Prices
3.2.3. Observed vs. Forecast Price Decline 2006 to 2007
3.2.4. Forecast Laser Price Decline Through 2012
3.2.5. Price Reduction Summary
3.2.6. Breaking the Price/Performance/Volume Barrier
3.2.7. Breakthrough Price forecast
4 Market Segment Forecasts
5 Conclusions
5.1. Application of Lasers to Displays
6 SWOT Analysis: Lasers vs. Competitive Technology
6.1. SWOT Analysis of Lasers vs. LEDs in Projection Applications
6.1.1. Strengths
6.1.2. Weaknesses
6.1.3. Opportunities
6.1.4. Threats
6.2. SWOT Analysis of Lasers vs. Lamps in Projection Applications
6.2.1. Strengths
6.2.2. Weaknesses
6.2.3. Opportunities
6.2.4. Threats
6.3. SWOT Analysis of Lamps vs. Lasers and LEDs in Projection
Applications
6.3.1. Strengths
6.3.2. Weaknesses
6.3.3. Opportunities
6.3.4. Threats
7 Appendix 1: Laser, Component and System Manufacturers
8 Appendix 2: Profiles for Selected Laser Manufacturers
8.1. Arasor
8.1.1. Company Background
8.1.2. Technology and Products
8.1.3. SWOT Analysis
8.2. Coherent
8.2.1. Company Background
8.2.2. Technology & Products
8.2.3. SWOT Analysis
8.3. Collinear
8.3.1. Company Background
8.3.2. Technology& Products
8.3.3. SWOT Analysis for Collinear
8.4. Corning
8.4.1. Company Background
8.4.2. Technology and Products
8.4.3. SWOT Analysis
8.5. Epson
8.5.1. Company Background
8.5.2. Technology and Products
8.5.3. SWOT Analysis
8.6. Nichia
8.6.1. Company Background
8.6.2. Technology and Products
8.6.3. SWOT Analysis
8.7. nLight
8.7.1. Company Background
8.7.2. Technology & Products
8.7.3. SWOT Analysis
8.7.4. Threats
8.8. Novalux
8.8.1. Company Background
8.8.2. Technology & Products
8.8.3. SWOT Analysis
8.9. Oerlikon
8.9.1. Company Background
8.9.2. Technology and Products
8.9.3. SWOT Analysis
8.10. Osram Opto Semiconductor
8.10.1. Company Background
8.10.2. Technology & Products
8.10.3. SWOT Analysis
8.11. Principia Lightworks
8.11.1. Company Background
8.11.2. Technology & Products
8.11.3. SWOT Analysis
8.12. Young Optics
8.12.1. Company Background
8.12.2. Technology and Products
8.12.3. SWOT Analysis
9 Appendix 3: Profiles of Selected Laser System Companies
9.1. Corporation for Laser Optics Research
9.1.1. Company Background
9.1.2. Technology & Products
9.1.3. SWOT Analysis
9.2. Evans & Sutherland
9.2.1. Company Background
9.2.2. Technology & Products
9.2.3. SWOT Analysis
9.3. Fraunhofer Institute
9.3.1. Company Background
9.3.2. Technology & Products
9.3.3. SWOT Analysis
9.4. Jenoptik
9.4.1. Company Background
9.4.2. Technology and Products
9.4.3. SWOT Analysis
9.5. Kodak
9.5.1. Company Background
9.5.2. Technology & Products
9.5.3. SWOT Analysis
9.6. Light Blue Optics
9.6.1. Company Background
9.6.2. Technology & Products
9.6.3. SWOT Analysis
9.7. LightRush
9.7.1. Company Information
9.7.2. Technology & Products
9.7.3. SWOT Analysis
9.8. Microvision
9.8.1. Company Background
9.8.2. Technology & Products
9.8.3. SWOT Analysis
9.9. Mitsubishi
9.9.1. Company Background
9.9.2. Technology and Products
9.9.3. SWOT Analysis
9.10. Rheinmetall
9.10.1. Company Background
9.10.2. Technology and Products
9.10.3. SWOT Analysis
9.11. Sony
9.11.1. Company Background
9.11.2. Products & Technology
9.11.3. SWOT Analysis
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Blue Laser Prices for 2007
Figure 2: Pricing for White Laser Systems-100K Quantity (Optimistic)
Figure 3: Pricing for White Laser Systems-20K Quantity of 1W/Color Lasers
Figure 4: Extrapolated vs Breakthrough Pricing for 1W/Color Laser Sets
Figure 5: CIE 1931 Colorimetry
Figure 6: Video Color Gamuts
Figure 7: Gamut of Real Surface Colors
Figure 8: Laser Color Gamuts-Laser-1, 2 and 3
Figure 9: Color Gamuts of Laser Displays-Laser-4 and 5
Figure 10: Osram Ostar Color Gamut Compared to Video and Lasers
Figure 11:Color Gamut with 5 Lasers
Figure 12: Infitec Color Gamut with 6 Lasers
Figure 13: Color Metamerism
Figure 14: Hazard Associated with a 400mW Laser
Figure 15: Feedback to Control Laser Diodes
Figure 16: Wavelength Shift of a Sanyo Red Laser Diode
Figure 17: Laser Color Gamut Variation with Wavelength
Figure 18: Variation in Threshold Current with Temperature in a Red Laser
Diode
Figure 19: Customer Returns of Telecom Lasers
Figure 20: Laser Materials
Figure 21: Q-Peak Laser Using Multiple Wavelength Conversion Processes
Figure 22: Jenoptik Laser Using Multiple Wavelength Conversion Processes
Figure 23: Edge Emitting Laser Diode
Figure 24: Edge Emitting Laser Diode With External SHG
