2007 Laser Projection Systems

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Executive Summary 10
    1.1.     Introduction 10
    1.2.     Use of Lasers as the Illumination Source in Projection Displays 10
        1.2.1.         Required Developments to Increase Lasers Penetration in Projection Displays 10
        1.2.2.         Advantages of Lasers Over Other Illumination Sources in Projection Applications 11
        1.2.3.         Laser Price Study 12
        1.2.4.         Breaking the Price/Performance Barrier 15
        1.2.5.         Projection Display Applications Currently Best Served by Lasers 16
    1.3.     Status of Lasers and LEDs in Projection Applications 18
        1.3.1.         Pico-Projectors 19
        1.3.2.         Head-Up Displays 20
        1.3.3.         Pocket Projectors 21
        1.3.4.         Ultra-Portable Projectors 21
        1.3.5.         Consumer Rear Projection 22
        1.3.6.         Consumer Front Projection (Home Theater) 22
        1.3.7.         Business Projectors 23
        1.3.8.         Visualization and Simulation 23
        1.3.9.         Large Venue, Including Electronic Cinema 24
    1.4.     Corporate Profiles 25
2 Solid-state RGB Laser Technology and its Application to Displays 26
    2.1.     Introduction to This Study 26
    2.2.     Use of Lasers in Displays 27
        2.2.1.         Color in Displays 27
        2.2.2.         Laser Wavelength Selection for Projection Displays 34
        2.2.3.         Laser Color Gamuts with More than Three Lasers 40
        2.2.4.         Laser-Based 3D Displays with Infitec Technology 42
        2.2.5.         Color Metamerism 44
        2.2.6.         Laser Speckle 47
        2.2.7.         Warm-Up Time 48
        2.2.8.         Lifetime 49
        2.2.9.         Laser Safety 52
        2.2.10.         Environmental Issues 57
        2.2.11.         Variation in Laser Properties 58
        2.2.12.         Laser Reliability 62
    2.3.     Laser Technology 63
        2.3.1.         Laser Materials 64
        2.3.2.         Non-Linear Wavelength Conversion 66
        2.3.3.         Designs for Solid-State Lasers 69
        2.3.4.         Technologies Used for Specific Laser Colors 81
        2.3.5.         Laser Packaging Technology 83
    2.4.     Laser Display System Technology 89
        2.4.1.         Two-axis scanning Systems 89
        2.4.2.         Single-Axis Scanning Systems 95
        2.4.3.         Microdisplay-based Systems 102
        2.4.4.         Display Approaches Used by Various Participants 105
3 Forecasts for Laser-Based Displays 108
    3.1.     Technology Forecast 108
        3.1.1.         Laser Technology Forecast 108
        3.1.2.         Laser Projection System Technology Forecast 110
    3.2.     Laser Price Forecast 112
        3.2.1.         Price vs. Volume Model 113
        3.2.2.         2007 Laser Prices 116
        3.2.3.         Observed vs. Forecast Price Decline 2006 to 2007 122
        3.2.4.         Forecast Laser Price Decline Through 2012 124
        3.2.5.         Price Reduction Summary 131
        3.2.6.         Breaking the Price/Performance/Volume Barrier 132
        3.2.7.         Breakthrough Price forecast 136
4 Market Segment Forecasts 139
5 Conclusions 141
    5.1.     Application of Lasers to Displays 141
6 SWOT Analysis: Lasers vs. Competitive Technology 142
    6.1.     SWOT Analysis of Lasers vs. LEDs in Projection Applications 142
        6.1.1.         Strengths 142
        6.1.2.         Weaknesses 142
        6.1.3.         Opportunities 143
        6.1.4.         Threats 143
    6.2.     SWOT Analysis of Lasers vs. Lamps in Projection Applications 143
        6.2.1.         Strengths 143
        6.2.2.         Weaknesses 143
        6.2.3.         Opportunities 144
        6.2.4.         Threats 144
    6.3.     SWOT Analysis of Lamps vs. Lasers and LEDs in Projection Applications 144
        6.3.1.         Strengths 144
        6.3.2.         Weaknesses 144
        6.3.3.         Opportunities 144
        6.3.4.         Threats 145
7 Appendix 1: Laser, Component and System Manufacturers 146
8 Appendix 2: Profiles for Selected Laser Manufacturers 156
    8.1.     Arasor 156
        8.1.1.         Company Background 156
        8.1.2.         Technology and Products 157
        8.1.3.         SWOT Analysis 157
    8.2.     Coherent 158
        8.2.1.         Company Background 158
        8.2.2.         Technology & Products 159
        8.2.3.         SWOT Analysis 160
    8.3.     Collinear 162
        8.3.1.         Company Background 162
        8.3.2.         Technology& Products 162
        8.3.3.         SWOT Analysis for Collinear 163
    8.4.     Corning 164
        8.4.1.         Company Background 164
        8.4.2.         Technology and Products 164
        8.4.3.         SWOT Analysis 165
    8.5.     Epson 167
        8.5.1.         Company Background 167
        8.5.2.         Technology and Products 167
        8.5.3.         SWOT Analysis 168
    8.6.     Nichia 169
        8.6.1.         Company Background 169
        8.6.2.         Technology and Products 169
        8.6.3.         SWOT Analysis 170
    8.7.     nLight 172
        8.7.1.         Company Background 172
        8.7.2.         Technology & Products 172
        8.7.3.         SWOT Analysis 173
        8.7.4.         Threats 173
    8.8.     Novalux 174
        8.8.1.         Company Background 174
        8.8.2.         Technology & Products 176
        8.8.3.         SWOT Analysis 177
    8.9.     Oerlikon 179
        8.9.1.         Company Background 179
        8.9.2.         Technology and Products 179
        8.9.3.         SWOT Analysis 180
    8.10.     Osram Opto Semiconductor 182
        8.10.1.         Company Background 182
        8.10.2.         Technology & Products 182
        8.10.3.         SWOT Analysis 183
    8.11.     Principia Lightworks 184
        8.11.1.         Company Background 184
        8.11.2.         Technology & Products 185
        8.11.3.         SWOT Analysis 186
    8.12.     Young Optics 187
        8.12.1.         Company Background 187
        8.12.2.         Technology and Products 188
        8.12.3.         SWOT Analysis 188
9 Appendix 3: Profiles of Selected Laser System Companies 189
    9.1.     Corporation for Laser Optics Research 189
        9.1.1.         Company Background 189
        9.1.2.         Technology & Products 190
        9.1.3.         SWOT Analysis 190
    9.2.     Evans & Sutherland 192
        9.2.1.         Company Background 192
        9.2.2.         Technology & Products 193
        9.2.3.         SWOT Analysis 194
    9.3.     Fraunhofer Institute 196
        9.3.1.         Company Background 196
        9.3.2.         Technology & Products 196
        9.3.3.         SWOT Analysis 197
    9.4.     Jenoptik 198
        9.4.1.         Company Background 198
        9.4.2.         Technology and Products 199
        9.4.3.         SWOT Analysis 200
    9.5.     Kodak 202
        9.5.1.         Company Background 202
        9.5.2.         Technology & Products 202
        9.5.3.         SWOT Analysis 203
    9.6.     Light Blue Optics 205
        9.6.1.         Company Background 205
        9.6.2.         Technology & Products 205
        9.6.3.         SWOT Analysis 206
    9.7.     LightRush 207
        9.7.1.         Company Information 207
        9.7.2.         Technology & Products 207
        9.7.3.         SWOT Analysis 208
    9.8.     Microvision 209
        9.8.1.         Company Background 209
        9.8.2.         Technology & Products 209
        9.8.3.         SWOT Analysis 212
    9.9.     Mitsubishi 213
        9.9.1.         Company Background 213
        9.9.2.         Technology and Products 213
        9.9.3.         SWOT Analysis 214
    9.10.     Rheinmetall 215
        9.10.1.         Company Background 215
        9.10.2.         Technology and Products 215
        9.10.3.         SWOT Analysis 217
    9.11.     Sony 219
        9.11.1.         Company Background 219
        9.11.2.         Products & Technology 219
        9.11.3.         SWOT Analysis 221
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Blue Laser Prices for 2007 13
Figure 2: Pricing for White Laser Systems-100K Quantity (Optimistic) 14
Figure 3: Pricing for White Laser Systems-20K Quantity of 1W/Color Lasers 15
Figure 4: Extrapolated vs Breakthrough Pricing for 1W/Color Laser Sets 16
Figure 5: CIE 1931 Colorimetry 29
Figure 6: Video Color Gamuts 30
Figure 7: Gamut of Real Surface Colors 32
Figure 8: Laser Color Gamuts-Laser-1, 2 and 3 35
Figure 9: Color Gamuts of Laser Displays-Laser-4 and 5 36
Figure 10: Osram Ostar Color Gamut Compared to Video and Lasers 39
Figure 11:Color Gamut with 5 Lasers 41
Figure 12: Infitec Color Gamut with 6 Lasers 43
Figure 13: Color Metamerism 46
Figure 14: Hazard Associated with a 400mW Laser 55
Figure 15: Feedback to Control Laser Diodes 58
Figure 16: Wavelength Shift of a Sanyo Red Laser Diode 59
Figure 17: Laser Color Gamut Variation with Wavelength 60
Figure 18: Variation in Threshold Current with Temperature in a Red Laser Diode 62
Figure 19: Customer Returns of Telecom Lasers 63
Figure 20: Laser Materials 65
Figure 21: Q-Peak Laser Using Multiple Wavelength Conversion Processes 67
Figure 22: Jenoptik Laser Using Multiple Wavelength Conversion Processes 68
Figure 23: Edge Emitting Laser Diode 70
Figure 24: Edge Emitting Laser Diode With External SHG 70
Figure 25: Display with a Scanned Laser Bar 71
Figure 26: Surface Emitting Diode Lasers (VCSEL, VECSEL, NECSEL) 72
Figure 27: Straight DPSS Laser from Shanghai Dream Lasers 74
Figure 28: DPSS Green Laser Module from Coherent 74
Figure 29: Coherent "Verdi" DPSS Transfer Curve 75
Figure 30: DPSS 200 mW Green Laser Module from CrystaLaser 75
Figure 31: Electron Beam Pumped Laser from Principia Lightworks 77
Figure 32: Three Color Substrates in a Single eVCSEL CRT Envelope 77
Figure 33: Optical Output vs. E-beam Current for an eVCSEL Laser 78
Figure 34: Layout of a Fiber Laser 79
Figure 35: Technique for Coupling of the Pump Light into the Lasing Fiber 80
Figure 36: MOPA Laser Design 81
Figure 37: Laser Output Variation with PPLN Temperature 82
Figure 38: Packaging Technologies, Power Outputs and Drive Schemes 84
Figure 39: Samsung Laser Diode Package for a Communication Application 84
Figure 40: Sony/Nichia 2 Laser Package 85
Figure 41: Novalux 3 Laser Design 85
Figure 42: CNI Lasers Three-Laser Package 86
Figure 43: Q-Peak 10W 524 nm Green Laser 87
Figure 44: Oerlikon Laser Modules 87
Figure 45: Laser Projector as of 1969 90
Figure 46: Jenoptik Laser Display System 91
Figure 47: Jenoptik Relay Lens 92
Figure 48: Complete Display Module from Fraunhofer Institute 92
Figure 49: Layout of a Monochrome Symbol Technologies Micro-Projector 93
Figure 50: Exterior of a Monochrome Symbol Technologies Micro-Projector 93
Figure 51: Sony Laser Dream Theater Using the GxL 1-D Microdisplay 96
Figure 52: Silicon Light Machines GLV Technology 97
Figure 53: GEMS Device from Kodak 98
Figure 54: Kodak GEMS System Technology 99
Figure 55: Typical Digistar 3 Laser Projector Installation 101
Figure 56: Laser Illumination of Microdisplays 103
Figure 57: Light Blue Optics Real-Time Holographic System 104
Figure 58: Price/Volume Model for Distributors 114
Figure 59: Price/Volume Model for OEMs 115
Figure 60: Price/Volume Model Including Major Design & Development Changes 116
Figure 61: Blue Laser Prices for 2005 and 2007 118
Figure 62: Green Laser Prices for 2005 and 2007 120
Figure 63: Red Laser Prices for 2005 and 2007 121
Figure 64: Yellow Laser Prices for 2007 122
Figure 65: Observed vs. Forecast Price Declines 123
Figure 66: Pricing for White Laser Systems-Unit Quantity (Optimistic) 125
Figure 67: Pricing for White Laser Systems-1K Quantity (Optimistic) 126
Figure 68: Pricing for White Laser Systems-100K Quantity (Optimistic) 126
Figure 69 : Pricing for White Laser Systems-Unit Quantity (Expected) 127
Figure 70: Pricing for White Laser Systems-1K Quantity (Expected) 128
Figure 71 Pricing for White Laser Systems-100K Quantity (Expected) 128
Figure 72 Pricing for White Laser Systems-Unit Quantity (Conservative) 129
Figure 73 Pricing for White Laser Systems-1K Quantity (Conservative) 130
Figure 74 Pricing for White Laser Systems-100K Quantity (Conservative) 130
Figure 75 Summary of Pricing for 1W/Color White Laser Systems-20K Quantity 131
Figure 76 Summary of Pricing for 50mW/Color White Laser Systems-100K Quantity 132
Figure 77 Breakthrough Price Forecast-20K Quantity, 1W/Color Lasers 137
Figure 78 Breakthrough Price Forecast-100K Quantity, 50mW/Color Lasers 138
Figure 79: Coherent Laser Module for DLP Demonstration Projector 160
Figure 80: Corning Green Laser Module 165
Figure 81: Nichia 50mW Blue Laser Diode 169
Figure 82: InFocus 777 Projector Converted to Laser Illumination by Novalux 175
Figure 83: Novalux NECSEL Lasers 176
Figure 84: Oerlikon Laser Modules 180
Figure 85: Multicolor Principia Lasers in One CRT Envelope 185
Figure 86: Young Optics Representative Products 187
Figure 87: E&S Digistar 3 Laser Projector at the Center of a Domed Theater 194
Figure 88: Fraunhofer IPMS Laser Projector 197
Figure 89: Jenoptik LDT Projector Layout 199
Figure 90: Image Produced by a Jenoptik LDT Laser Projector 200
Figure 91: Color Gamut Comparison of Laser and Other Projectors 203
Figure 92: Microvision Scanning Mirror 211
Figure 93: Three AVIOR Projector Heads Mounted on a Motion Base 216
Figure 94: Edge-Matched Jenoptik Projectors in a Rheinmetall Simulator 217
Figure 95: Sony Laser Dream Theater 220
List of Tables
Table 1: Market Segment Definitions and Key Properties 18
Table 2: Market Segment Definitions and Key Properties 27
Table 3: Color Coordinates for Key Video Formats 31
Table 4: Laser Wavelengths and Powers 37
Table 5: Laser Powers with More than 3 Colors 41
Table 6: Wavelengths and Powers for Infitec Lasers 43
Table 7: Lifetime and Color Shift Requirements Summary by Application 50
Table 8: Output Power Limits 53
Table 9: Probable Laser Class Associated with Each Targeted Application 56
Table 10: Partial List of OPO System Wavelengths 67
Table 11: Summary of Laser Technologies 88
Table 12: Summary of Display Technologies 105
Table 13: Partial List of Available Laser Wavelengths 108
Table 14: Price vs. Volume Model Exponents 113
Table 15: Price/Volume Model Parameters for 2007 117
Table 16 Laser Price Decline: Optimistic Forecast 125
Table 17 Laser Price Decline: Expected Forecast 127
Table 18: Laser Price Decline: Conservative Forecast 129
Table 19: Laser-Based Automotive HUD 210
Table 20: Laser-Based HMD 210
 

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