Panasonic Shows Off World's Thinnest Laser Projector

Laser image projection is the solution that IT players came up with in their quest to create true pico-projectors, which are both compact and powerful.

Panasonic has become the creator of the world's thinnest 100-lumen projector module yet.

Otherwise called OIU (optical imaging unit), it is only 75 mm-thick (2.95 inches) and can create laser-based images in resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.

The folks at Engadget, who got a chance to see the device up close during CEATEC Japan, 2012, report that the image quality leaves something to be desired, and the price is rather steep (56,800 Yen / $730 / 558 Euro).

Then again, this is just a proof-of-concept gadget. Panasonic actually intends to make it small enough to be included in mobile phones. Obviously, the price will go down in time as well.

At least the technology doesn't require focusing (the light doesn't go through an LCD filter, but is emitted through a single laser beam).