Nippon Signal shows off pocket-sized SVGA projector

[Via About Projectors]
Posts with tag MicroProjector


It's no secret that Texas Instruments has been pushing to get its technologies into more cellphones for awhile now, and considering that even Nokia reckons that HD recording capabilities in mobiles is but a few years away, it's not too shocking to hear what TI busted out at Mobile World Congress. Reportedly, the firm has unveiled "a chip to support cellphones with mini projectors and another chip that would let users record high-definition video on their phones." After showing prototypes in the past, TI asserted that it had chips "ready for production" for pico projectors that could be integrated into a variety of handsets, while the OMAP3440 -- which would let consumers capture HD footage on the same device that gives those thumbs a workout -- will be available in Q2 for handset makers to test out.
We've no idea who whispered in Aurora Systems' ear that naming your products sans a few letters and with caps lock on was a good idea, but nevertheless, it listened, and it listened good. First up, the firm is cranking out the LAZR IMAGR, which is hailed as a "single panel color field sequential device" (psst, a micro LCD) designed to get VGA resolution into mobile projectors and the like. In case that wasn't enough, you'll be thrilled to know that it's also trumpeting its new LAZR DRIVR, which, contrary to popular belief, actually isn't Tiger's latest club of choice. Rather, it's a chipset designed to "drive both VGA and SVGA resolution panels" while also enabling memory to be "embedded in the driver chip to limit total chipset power consumption." Sounds pretty spiffy, huh? Or are you still stuck on the names?
Apparently, the millions and millions of consumers keeping these spectacle companies in business don't actually use them in public, as Scalar has somehow justified busting out yet another set of microdisplay-equipped glasses for the world to, um, see. The firm is no stranger to the world of video-enabled glasses, but these tinted gems still retain that terribly unfashionable look while offering up a "virtual 45-inch screen" for commuters to watch while getting unknowingly stared at. The device can reportedly accept nearly any AV input, including that from an iPod or other PMP / DVD player, and gives the illusion that you're viewing a screen from nearly two feet away. The (fairly) lightweight specs weigh in at 40-grams, and while we've no idea why you'd be interested, you can snag the Teleglass T4 in April for a completely ridiculous ¥100,000 ($824). [Warning: Read link requires subscription]
While we were able to get a little hands-on time with Microvision's own minuscule projector earlier this month at CES, the folks over at TFOT were able to snag some face time with Explay's ridiculously small nanoprojector. This itty bitty source of entertainment was supposed to land right around this time, and although the latest form is still a prototype, it looks like solid progress is being made. The Israeli-based company showed off a design which featured a full-fledged PJ that was just marginally larger "than a cigarette box," and claims that the final product will be "around 20-cubic centimeters and around 5-centimeters in length." Essentially, Explay's unit utilizes "a combination of laser and LED light sources," otherwise known as an Advanced Spatial Light Modulator (ASLM), and in the time they had to view it in action, there were quite impressed. They noted the relatively low 320 x 240 resolution, but were satisfied with the image quality from one to two feet away, and praised its ability to remain in focus regardless of distance from the screen. The company has revamped its hopeful ship date, and now suggests that we'll see a finalized version on store shelves next quarter, and while pricing will indeed vary by production number, it should start "in the low $700 range." Click on through for a few more in-action snapshots, and be sure to hit the read link for the full skinny on this diminutive projector.






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