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December 2001 Issue Summary
In the December 2001 edition of the Microdisplay Report,
we cover the trend of troubles tempered by bits of optimism too in the
last month. On the downside, U.S. based microdisplay makers Zight and
Displaytech have had work force reductions - and just after the issue
was closed - we learned that eMagin has had to lay off workers too.
The slowness of the near-to-eye market to develop and the inability
to raise capital in these tough economic times are becoming the "usual
suspects." High-temperature poly-silicon panels are not immune either.
Epson for example, has apparently decided to delay construction of its
new 12-inch fab.
In HDTVs, Samsung Electronics, which earlier this fall launched an F-LCOS-based
set, has pulled it back from the market. It will announce its plans
for this set at CES.
But amid all the hesitation and carnage, there are still some good things
happening. Significantly, TI keeps bulling ahead with its next generation
of DLP components. It has started to ship its Mustang and Matterhorn
component sets a bit early. These are destined for table-top entertainment
platforms that are expected to debut in the second half of 2002.
The Chinese market remains hot too as SpatiaLight sowed up two key deals
in the last month. It will supply LCOS panels and engines to China Electronics
Corporation, the country's biggest electronics conglomerate as well
as a team composed of HiSense and Irico Group. If certain milestones
are met, these agreements could lead to production of HDTVs. In the
same vein, InFocus will supply DLP-based engines to SVA for TV products
in 2002. There is even a new entrant into the crowded LCOS field:
siliconDISPLAY. It has developed an 0.6-inch XGA panel and wants to
develop a WUGXA version -if it can raise the funds.
Meanwhile, Sony has a new high-brightness HTPS panel, Hitachi is working
on a 0.5" LCOS panel and MicroVue is moving toward production of its
LCOS panel for single-panel projection systems.
This month's issue also has a wrap-up of presentation projector news
from Comdex and around the world, as well as an expanded Bottom Line
piece on the recession engulfing Japanese electronics companies. All
in all, a month packed with lots of information. The Table of Contents
is shown below.
Other news from Insight Media this month includes our recently released
profile on LCOS developer, Three-Five Systems. Will they survive? Buy
the report and find out.
In addition, we are working feverishly on our Projection Industry Summit
2002 Conference. This event will bring together the entire projection
manufacturing infrastructure as well as top industry analysts and corporate
leaders. We will have more on this soon.
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