While demonstrating its DLP pico-projector prototype in Taipei two days ago, Texas Instruments Senior VP John Van Scoter said the company has been speaking with handset, PDA, digital still camera (DSC) and notebook manufacturers to discuss launching products with pico-projector modules built in, reported Max Wang and Emily Chuang of Digitimes.com. Van Scoter said product launches could take place as early as 2H’08.

Ken Werner
Senior Analyst and Editor

TI introduced the prototype to selected members of the media during CTIA Wireless 2007, held the week of March 26 in Orlando. At that time Frank J. Moizio, Worldwide Strategic Marketing and Business Development Manager for TI DLP Front Projection, said, "Over the next few years, we envision a large opportunity for the convergence of projection technology and mobile devices, like cell phones."

In Taiwan, Van Scoter said TI has completed development of its first-generation pico-projectors, which use laser-diode and LED light sources, and the projectors are ready for application in end products. TI is bullish about the pico-projector market, and Van Scoter, quoting iSuppli as predicting the demand for mobile devices with small-size screens will reach 1B units in 2009. That does not mean the underlying demand for pico-projectors is 1B per year, but even a modest penetration into a 1B a year market produces significant sales. To get a better handle on what the sales potential will really be, Insight Media is currently updating its Laser Projection Report, which will include the pico-projector and other market segments.

What none of the TI representatives in Taiwan were reported as saying is that TI’s DLP unit badly needs a new high-volume market for its chips as the rear-projection TV market inexorably shrinks. Yesterday, James Townsend, Principal of Insight Media’s financial partner Townhall Proprietary Research, reported that at both Best Buy and Circuit City, "Sales of CRT-TVs and rear projection TVs (RPs) have significantly eroded at a faster pace than expected."

Texas Instruments needs these tiny projectors to fly and fly high. In Taiwan and Orlando, the company was using its formidable promotional clout to help the cause.