September 1999

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Electrohome Refocuses on Visualization/Simulation Market
In a quick series of moves, Electrohome Limited has expanded its presence in the visualization/simulation (vis/sim) market segment and shed its high-end projection unit. For about $25M (U.S.), Christie Inc. has agreed to acquire the Projection Systems Group of Electrohome Limited.

Three-Five Signs Technology and Distribution Agreements
Microdisplay developer Three-Five Systems continues to move aggressively to establish itself as one of the survivors in the consolidating microdisplay industry. Following on the heels of their purchase of the microdisplay assets of National Semiconductor in July, Three-Five has now licensed XGA display technology from S-Vision and signed a deal with a major electronics distributor: Mitsui & Company, Ltd. Of Japan.

Daewoo Electronics is Split in Two
Daewoo Electronics Company has decided to sell its operations and assets in Western Europe, North and South America, Japan, Korea and Australia to Walid Alomar & Associates for $3.2B Korean won. DEC is left with assets and operations in China, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Brazil, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Web Phone Project Funded
Under a $5M program, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop a handheld, wireless Internet-access device. An SVGA liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) display from the MicroDisplay Corporation will be used in the demonstration system.

Alien Technology Offers Novel Display Fab Approach
A start-up company called Alien Technology Corporation has developed an off-beat approach to electronics manufacture that is raising eyebrows. Dubbed Fluidic Self Assembly, or FSA, the process uses a liquid to float semiconductor die into holes in a larger substrate (rigid or flexible), thus forming the basis for an electronic backplane. Such a structure is potentially suitable for use with a wide variety of display technologies.

Planar Broadening AMEL Line-up
Planar Systems reports that they getting close to shipping sample quantities of their new high-density active matrix electroluminescent (AMEL) microdisplay. The 0.39-inch VGA device features a pixel pitch of 12 microns, half that of previous generation devices. Pricing could be as low as $50 in volume quantities, with production set to begin in Q2'00.

It's Official: Hana Microdisplay Technologies, Inc.
All the papers have now been signed and Hana Microdisplay Technologies, Inc. has began operations. As we reported last month, Hana has acquired the LC processing facility of S-Vision and will now operate the facility as a merchant microdisplay foundry.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Hyundai May Sell LCD Division
More UXGA Displays Coming
Kodak /TDK In OEL Licensing Agreement
UDC/Luxell in OLED Manufacturing Agreement
USDC Launches Display Industry Web Site

APPLICATIONS
Front Projectors (with Table)
Wrap-up of new introductions from 3M Visual Systems Division, Seleco, Mitsubishi Presentation Products, and Canon, as well as business news regarding Vidikron of America.

HDTVs
Wrap-up of business and technology news from Zenith Electronics Corporation, LG Electronics, Hitachi Ltd., Sony Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Motorola, and Nxtwave Communications Inc.

Camcorders (with Table)
Summary of recent introductions from JVC Professional Products Company, Sharp Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Sony Electronics, and Canon USA.

Headsets
Extensive coverage of news in several categories such as:
Siggraph ‘99 Wrap-up
Sony Broadcast and Professional Group, n-Vision, Computer Graphics Systems Development (CGSD) Corporation, General Reality Company, Intersense, i-O Display Systems, and the Laboratories of Image Information Science and Technology.
Military
Air Force Wright Lab at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Planar, Vision Systems International, Elbit Systems, Kaiser Electronics, Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, and Boeing Phantom Works.
Commercial Aviation
American Airlines, Panasonic, and Sony Corporation.
Industry
Leica Geosystems AG and Microvision

Wearables
wrap-up of news from Xybernaut Corporation and the University of Toronto.

Digital Still Cameras (with Table)
Summary of news from Olympus, Sony Electronics, Nikon, Fujifilm, Kodak, Epson, and Canon.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Market reports from InfoTrends Research Group Inc., Dataquest Inc., and the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA).

BOTTOM LINE
Financial results from SpatiaLight, Microvision, n-Vision, Universal Display, and Xybernaut.

MOVERS& SHAKERS
Personnel changes at Photon Dynamics, Alien Technology, and Planar.