March PM Released

Our March issue of Projection Monthly is now in the hands of our subscribers, and the 121 pages this month include highlights from the LED presentations given at the recent Light Congress held in New York City, such as those from RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Osram and Lamina Ceramics - which showed a new 28,000-lumen LED spotlight that had attendees in awe. Don't miss this coverage.

We also have full coverage of a new spectrally programmable light engine from Tidal Photonics and Ballista that uses DMD technology to shape the light output to create unique spectral profiles. In the approach, white light is spectrally separated by a grating and imaged onto a DMD device. By controlling the way the mirrors are turned on and off, wavelengths can be added or subtracted from the output profile, and the intensity of each spectral element can be adjusted too. And, spectral profiles can be adjusted in real time. The team calls this exciting development a Spectrally Programmable Light Engine (SPLE).

In our Alternate Big-Screen Display section this month, we look at the new carbon nanotechnologies being introduced that literally build components from single atoms and molecules, offering a unique and attractive combination of electrical, thermal, and structural properties. Their molecular perfection and high aspect ratio promise not only to transform existing display technologies, but also to enable whole new industries, from materials science to biology and medicine.

This could lead to a new type of flat-panel display that will rely on diamonds or carbon nanotubes (two forms of pure carbon) to produce images. These materials are very efficient at emitting electrons that can activate a phosphor screen, producing a flat-panel display with CRT-like qualities. Theoretically, these "field effect displays," or FEDs, will consume less energy than plasma or LCD-TVs, deliver a better picture, and even cost less.

But the technology is still young, and there is still much to learn. Candescent burned through $600M in funding before abandoning plans to produce FEDs made with materials other than carbon in 2001. It sold its assets to Canon in August 2004, two months after filing for voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11.

So far, some of the biggest proponents of an FED-like display are Canon and Toshiba. The two manufacturers have formed a joint venture to make surface-conduction electron-emission display (SED) panels, and Toshiba will produce large-screen SED televisions in 2006. Although Canon and Toshiba's description of SEDs is very similar to that of FEDs, the two companies are using a different particle than carbon (for more details on SED technology, see Projection Monthly, February 2005, p. 104.)

But, carbon nanotubes are getting a lot of attention in display labs these days. Supporting these efforts are companies that manufacture the base structures, like Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc. (CNI) (Houston, TX) (www.cnanotech.com). It began supplying single-wall carbon nanotubes on a developmental basis in 2000, when the company was formed, and has expanded that capability in subsequent years. The company produces a wide array of small-diameter carbon nanotube products and recently announced it can now provide double-wall carbon nanotubes in gram to multiple kilogram quantities.

In yet another example of university and corporate collaboration, NanoFED, a subsidiary of Advance Nanotech (London, UK; New York, NY) (www.advancenanotech.com), has launched a $2M collaborative project with the University of Bristol to develop a new emissive display technology based on diamond dust. The company hopes to have working prototypes in 18 months to two years.

A third company, based in the US, is Helix Materials (Richardson, TX) (www.helixmaterial.com). Helix focuses on carbon nanotubes in single-wall and multi-wall configurations, using a proprietary chemical vapor deposition and arc processes the company says enable the production of nanotubes with controlled diameter distributions that can be tailored for various applications.

This month's issue also has a great deal on the manufacturing plans of the LCD makers in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Capacity continues to expand and price reductions continue unabated. Will the profitability squeeze these conditions are creating cause the LCD makers to slow fab building, expansion and production? Will we see more consolidation? How will this affect the competitiveness of PDP and projection display systems? No one knows for sure, but we have lots of coverage and analysis to help you build an informed opinion.

And, there is lots more, as usual. This month's issue includes 140+ timely stories, all organized into over 30 sub-sections for easy review and reference. And, if you are a subscriber, you can build a library of past issues that is key word searchable - a very valuable research tool.

Projection Monthly is a subscription-based newsletter that covers the entire big-screen display industry, including all technologies, markets and applications - from the supply chain through the distribution channel. If you would like to evaluate a sample copy of Projection Monthly, please contact Dave Torromeo, 203-831-8464, dave@insightmedia.info

About Insight Media
Insight Media (www.insightmedia.info) is a full-service market research company specializing in microdisplay-based products in the projection and near-to-eye segments. It tracks the full supply chain, finished products and distribution of these microdisplay-based products through its various newsletters, technology reports, forecasts, conferences and custom consulting activities. Headquartered in Norwalk, CT, Insight Media has a core of analysts and associates to cover the microdisplay industry in a comprehensive manner.