New PVPro mini projector has no moving parts

We've seen these mini projector technologies popping up all over, but it's nice to see a working prototype, even if this PVPro unit from Light Blue Optics is merely a monochrome version. The projector is targeted at eventual use with cellphones and the video iPod, and includes no moving parts, skipping over prisms and glass to use lasers for imaging. The unit also has "infinite focus," which purports to need no adjustment to optics for the image to be in focus, no matter what the distance. We're glad to hear they don't have a need for most of the traditional heat causing and energy wasting components of a projector, but we'd like to know how the device works beyond "laz0rs," "computational algorithms," and "novel optical techniques." We guess they have a while to work all that out, because even though they'll have a color version out this year, we won't be seeing the device for sale for another "two to four years."

[Via HD Beat]

[Derek @ Feb 13th 2006 4:02PM]

It's simple how it works. They have an LCD over a mirror substrate. If no current is going to the pixel of the LCD, a mirror is shown. If there is current, then it's black. They shine a laser at it, and it's reflected off the mirror (or not) and thus projects the image onto whatever surface you want. Since they are using lasers, and refraction, no focusing is needed. Also, the lasers don't use much voltage, and are very bright even in regularly lit rooms. You should check out 'light blue optics' webpage for more information.

[chui wei leong @ Jan 8th 2009 5:31AM]

Buy a IPOD docking projector at USD299 at www.genie-sys.com. Contact me if you are wholesaler or distributor : [e-mail].

[john @ Feb 13th 2006 4:03PM]

I'm sold - I'd even take a monochrome version today - especially at that small form factor and the low power requirements.

Their website details how it works - not rocket science - just took time for technology to get up to speed (fast enough processors, cheap enough lasers)...

http://www.lightblueoptics.com/more_info2.html

[fartbrain @ Feb 13th 2006 4:25PM]

yeah simple

[Gratis Kontaktanzeigen @ Feb 13th 2006 6:10PM]

I wonder how good the picture
quality is on these these projectors. I doubt that it can be that good.

[CrAzZyLeE @ Nov 12th 2006 11:15PM]

Quick Specs:

Color Depth: Monochrome Green at 532nm (full color available late 2006)
Depth of Focus: Infinite (image remains in focus at any distance from the projector)
Resolutions Supported: QCIF, CIF, VGA, NTSC, 1024x512 (resolutions up to 2048x1280 including SXGA and S-HDTV available upon request)
Typical Diagonal Image & Brightness: 15" @ 50cd/m^2 (all pixels full brightness); 15" @ 200cd/m^2 (50% max average pixel amplitude)
Aspect Ratio Image: 7" @ 220cd/m^2 (all pixels full brightness); 7" @ 880cd/m^2 (50% max average pixel amplitude)
Electrical Power Consumption: 1.4W (max pixel power, all pixels);

[yelohbird @ Feb 13th 2006 10:13PM]

Damn, if they could squeeze it just a TINY bit thinner and stick it INSIDE an iPod Video (I'd settle for the thickness of the 3G/4G iPods)...

While a 15" image isn't going to replace your home movie theater, pointing your iPod video against the economy class seatback in front of you...sure beats the current 2.5" screen. Or in a lecture hall seatback during a boring class. Or on the door in the loo. The possibilities are endless =D

[extermin8tor @ Feb 14th 2006 4:33AM]

yep its awesome, posibilities are endless. the funniest would be aiming a pr0n flick on the board when the teachers not looking, but the class sees it.

the technology has been around a while, like dlp projecters, they were out a while but only realised now, it took a lot of money, effort.

[paul @ Feb 14th 2006 5:05PM]

Holographic pattern on LCoS; pretty cool.
Just not sure about the frame rate, and the size when it needs green and blue laser diodes/driversc to generate full-color projection.

[gilmour @ Feb 15th 2006 4:19AM]

Electronic's Weekly magazine, has it using a micro-display-based controlable hologram to form its image. A 512 X 512 microdisplay inside the box forms a hologram which projects a 768 X 432 image.

Frame rates quoted on dev kits as being 25-30 frame/s with a PC handling calculation duties

[mike @ Feb 16th 2006 12:21AM]

I just wish that they also create bigger projectors for laptops

[Joe @ Apr 25th 2006 1:51AM]

Paul (#7), the green and blue lasers can be generated simply by IR laser diode pumped crystals just like the (now illegal in the US) green and blue laser pointers. The LEDs, however, need a lot of power compared to the baclight for an LCD or you get a washed out picture (perhaps 2W to 5W will be needed for a decent sized picture and about 1W for a 15 inch diagonal in a dimly lit room). I'd guess it's the difficulties with this and the power they need that are slowing things down. You do *not* want to know how much the direct green laser diodes go for