I wrote about micro-projectors this past May, and in particular, the Microvision pico projector and the QPC BrightLase(R). This is one of the hot new markets in technology with pocket-sized laser projectors that connect to mobile phones, personal media players and other mobile devices. My article in May about the Microvision product discussed a projector that would create an image that could be seen by a small group gathered around a small screen.

One thing that can be said about technology, with some consistency, is that it improves on the features of products continuously. The Microvision pico projector is no exception.  Instead of limiting the viewing area of the projected image to a tabletop screen, the new improved projector can project images up to 100 inches. This opens up the market and applications for this new generation of lens-less projectors.

According to Microvision, the PicoP display engine, the fundamental technology on which the company’s laser projector prototype is based, is comprised of directly modulated light sources, custom-drive electronics and software, optical combiners and Microvision’s MEMS single scanning mirror.

The tiny scanning mirror itself is less than one square millimeter in area—or about the size of the head of a pin. The single scanning mirror is designed to scan in both horizontal and vertical directions so that a single beam of light can be precisely steered, in a raster-like fashion, at very high speeds to project a complete video image.

The reason this technology is cutting-edge is because of the small size and low power requirements of the device. The new generation of micro-projector achieves efficient full-color, hi-resolution, high-contrast images without the need for a front lens; this means no focusing concerns.

The new Microvision projector prototype will be introduced at CEATEC in Tokyo, Japan (September 30-October 4, 2008).  The original projector was just introduced to the public at the CES show earlier this year.

This next generation of projector is envisioned to have any number of commercial applications. As I mentioned in May, the new technology can be used for automotive heads-up displays, cell phones and lap tops. The small pico projectors are a big improvement for outside salespeople who currently lug around data projectors.  With the new larger projected image, the market for micro-projectors should blossom.