October 1999

NEWS & ANALYSIS

JVC Launches New HDTV
Signaling a big vote of confidence in it's reflective LCD microdisplay technology, the Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. has decided to offer a rear-projection HDTV based upon their Digital Image Light Amplifier (D-ILA) display. A 50-inch model is set to debut in Japan this November, while a U.S. and European launch is set for next spring. The company used Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) '99 consumer-electronics show held in Berlin last September, to debut the set, and will show it again at the up-coming Japan Electronics Show in October.

Mustek Uses Kopin Viewfinder for Digital Camera
Kopin Corporation has now snagged a second major production contract for their QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) CyberDisplay product. This time it is Mustek Inc. , a leading manufacturer of scanners, digital still cameras (DSC) and other consumer electronic equipment. They will be using a color display as the digital camera's electronic viewfinder. Kopin is already providing monochrome CyberDisplays for two JVC camcorder viewfinders (see August, 1999, Microdisplay Report).

Sanyo Demos Super-Slim Monitor
Sanyo Electric Company raised some eyebrows last month when they announced they had developed a 50-inch prototype rear-projection system that is only 12 inches deep. The monitor employs a newly developed Mirror-Projection System which uses a set of aspherical reflection mirrors to compress the optical system to about half the thickness of more conventional approaches. Typically, a short-throw lens and flat optical surfaces are employed in creating the rear-projection monitor.

JVC Develops New Display with Holographic Filter
The Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. has developed a new Digital Image Light Amplifier (D-ILA) display that will be used to power a host of rear-projection products (see related news story). What is unique and new about this display, is that it employs spatial color filter technology that enables a single-panel projection system instead of a three-panel system or a color sequential scheme.

CMD Gets $9M - Focus on Wireless
Colorado MicroDisplay, Inc. (CMD) has closed their third round of financing raising $9M. The investment brings CMD's total capital to $24M. Funds will be used for manufacturing ramp-up and marketing of the company's new digital chipset, continued research and development of new product categories, and additional working capital requirements.

HP/Displaytech Expand Distribution
Displaytech, Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company, have announced an expansion of a Japanese distribution agreement. Nissho Electronics Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) will now be authorized to sell microdisplays produced by the Displaytech-HP alliance. Nissho was already distributing displays produced under the Displaytech-only name, per an exclusive agreement signed in August, 1998. Nissho is a major value-added reseller, systems integrator and distributor in Japan.

More Moves in the Digital Cinema Market
As a key step in building a digital cinema strategy, last month we reported that Christie Inc. had acquired the Projection Systems Group of Electrohome Limited. Now, IMAX Corporation has acquired Digital Projection International, potentially, in a bid to also expand into the emerging digital cinema market.

Silicon Light Machines Gets $10.3M
Microdisplay developer Silicon Light Machines, has received $10.3M in new financing. Last May, the company completed an $8.75M round of financing. According to Rob Corrigan, the company's VP of Marketing, funds will be used for additional working capital and the continued development of their Grating Light Valve (GLV) technology. The company is expected to grow from around 40 people today to perhaps 50-60 early next year.

Lamp for Rear-Projection Monitor Now Available
Welch Allyn has announced the immediate availability of their new 90 Watt lamp designed specifically for the rear-projection monitor market. The lamp is intended to overcome technology hurdles in the emerging rear-projection monitor market. Specifically, it addresses the need for increased brightness, long lifetime and low cost.

Three-Five Systems Completes China Plant
Display manufacturer Three-Five Systems, Inc. has completed its new state-of-the-art production facility in Beijing, China. The new facility replaces a temporary facility established last winter, significantly expanding Three-Five's production capacity, and enhancing its worldwide manufacturing operations by providing more flexible manufacturing schedules. The company's other main LCD assembly facility is located in the Philippines.

JVC Consolidates Sales and Technology Operations
The Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) plans to establish a new North American Digital IMAGE Technology Center in Carlsbad, California this fall. The center will form the core of JVC's worldwide projector systems engineering services, and will endeavor to enhance both technology levels and user services.

Daewoo Still Teetering
Last month we reported that Daewoo Electronics would be separated into two companies, with California-based Walid Alomar & Associates buying the bigger part for $3.2B. But the deal has not gone through on schedule. Making matters worse, the delay is causing component suppliers to require COD payments for their products, thus forcing VCR and TV production problems.

Cree Steps Up Development and Production Efforts
Cree Research, Inc., a leader in the development and manufacture of semiconductor materials and electronic devices made from silicon carbide (SiC), is flush with money. Just in the last month, they have signed around $70M in new contracts to improve their production capabilities and deliver a wide variety of SiC based products, including green and blue LEDs.

APPLICATIONS
Rear Projection Monitors (with Table)
This month there is news from the Raytheon Marine Company's Digital Display Group using a DLP-based design. In the CRT category, Philips Electronics unveiled two new models and an improved older model, and Hitachi America says they have finally begun shipping their 61-inch HDTV.

LCD TVs
New LCD TVs are coming from Matsushita Electric Industrial Company and Sanyo Electric Company, and a new format LCD was introduced by IBM Japan.

CRT TVs (with Table)
This category saw new products from Philips Electronics and Princeton Graphic Systems, as well as other news from Toshiba America, JVC, and Mitsubishi Electric.

Digital Still Cameras (with Table)
This month's wrap up includes new products from Sanyo Electric, Afga, Fujifilm, Mustek, Yashica, Panasonic, Hewlett-Packard, Epson, and Nikon.

Front Projection (with Table)
Here, we have news from Ampro, Pico Direct, Marantz, Sharp Electronics, InFocus Systems, Davis A/S, Runco International, Seiko-Epson, Toshiba America, Eastman Kodak, and Sony Electronics.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Market studies from Allied Business Intelligence (digital set top boxes), ECON (future of DTV), CEMA (home theater sales), Neikei Business Publications and DisplaySearch (LCD monitor sales), and IDC (PC sales).

BOTTOM LINE
Financial news from Laser Power Corporation (merger offer) and Kopin Corporation (new offering).

MOVERS & SHAKERS
Personal moves at Planar Systems, Microvision, and Silicon Light Machines.