Scram Technologies showed a laser-based pico-projector at Projection Summit, just before Infocomm. It produced an image about 7" x 9" that was clearly visible, if a bit washed out by the high ambient lighting conditions. Scram reports that the light output was about 10 lumens as shown at Projection Summit, while the projector consumed about 5 watts. Geri Koehler, VP of operations for Scram, expects that after optimizing this demonstration unit it will be able to produce 20 lumens and a production version should be about 30 lumens.

Matt Brennesholtz
Insight Media Analyst

The projector had SVGA resolution and used a 0.3" LCoS microdisplay, supplied by SpatiaLight. The system used a single microdisplay and field sequential color and it appeared to have less speckle than scanned pico projector systems. The projection module was about 65mm high by 45 mm deep and had a total volume of about 60cc. Again, Koehler expects the size can be shrunk in a production version.

In addition to showing the projector at Projection Summit, Scram had a suite where they could show the demonstration unit to potential OEMs and alternative panel suppliers. The design is not limited to LCoS microdisplays but can use other field sequential displays such as the DLP or fast transmissive LCDs.

According to Koehler, "This projector took 4 months from end of design to assembly, and most of the time was in waiting for lenses to be fabricated. SCRAM Asia brought the parts to our Maryland office for assembly and testing the week before the Projection Summit."

Insight Media has heard other reports of pico-projectors being built very quickly, like the Scram projector. Our conclusion is that the rocket science in a pico-projector is in the components, not in the projector design itself. Once an experienced projector engineer has suitable lasers and/or LEDs and a small microdisplay, construction of the projector itself is a straight-forward matter of mechanical, optical and electronic design. But you must have those components first.

A complete Trend Analysis of pico-projectors and pocket projectors will be published in the July issue of Projection Monthly with Expanded Flat Panel Coverage.